![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4K95PH1_Vaianu_jpeg.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nHeavy rain is falling in Whang\u0101rei, and there have been evacuations in Kerikeri as Cyclone Vaianu gets closer.<\/p>\n
The Kaipara District Council is also urging people living in flood-prone properties to prepare an evacuation plan before it’s needed.<\/p>\n
Further north, Northland Civil Defence has confirmed a number of people were evacuated from their homes in central Kerikeri earlier this evening amid fears large trees could come down when Cyclone Vaianu hits later tonight.<\/p>\n
Tauranga mayor Mahe Drysdale has declared a state of emergency ahead of Cyclone Vaianu.<\/p>\n
Drysdale said this will allow the council to keep people safe during worsening weather conditions.<\/p>\n
He said the council had been preparing for the last few days.<\/p>\n
“We’ve been going around the city doing what we can to prepare for the weather event. And now we’ve just declared a state of emergency.<\/p>\n
“We are as prepared as we possibly can be with an event like this coming.”<\/p>\n
Further down the coast, mandatory evacuations have been extended in parts of \u014chope and Thornton as Cyclone Vaianu strengthens, with residents in other low-lying areas urged to leave now as Cyclone Vaianu makes its way towards the North Island.<\/p>\n
Whakat\u0101ne District Council Acting Mayor Julie Jukes said the risk to life was real.<\/p>\n
“This is a dangerous weather event. There is a real risk to life, particularly in coastal and low-lying areas. Our message is clear: if you are told to leave, you must leave.”<\/p>\n
Residents in mandatory evacuation zones have been told to be out by this evening, with more evacuations possible.<\/p>\n
In the Coromandel, a brown swell and whitecaps are rolling in along the Coromandel Coast.<\/p>\n
In Whitianga, locals say they are well prepared, especially given the number of weather events they have faced just this year alone.<\/p>\n
The town is deserted, and the roads are mostly empty with supermarkets saying they are quiet today after mad preparations earlier in the week.<\/p>\n
An orange heavy rain warning is in place for Northland and parts of Bay of Islands from Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Local states of emergency have been declared in Whakat\u0101ne, Hawke’s Bay and Waikato.<\/p>\n
Aucklanders recieved an emergency notification via their phones shortly before 2pm.<\/p>\n
Coromandel Peninsula is under a red strong wind warning and orange heavy rain warning from the early hours of Sunday morning.<\/p>\n
Northland and south of Bay of Islands to Hokianga Harbour, Auckland and Great Barrier Island are under orange heavy rain warnings from Saturday night.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nCyclone Vaianu, as it tracked south from Fiji, as captured by TPA-1, Aotearoa’s only satellite.
\nPhoto: Supplied \/ Te P\u016bnaha \u0100tea \/ The University of Auckland\n<\/p>\n
An orange heavy rain warning will be in place from the early hours of Sunday in the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane including Rotorua and Gisborne\/Tairawhiti north of Tolaga Bay.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, MetService warned the combination of damaging winds, heavy rain and coastal inundation makes this a multi-hazard, potentially life-threatening event.<\/p>\n
There were concerns for power outages, falling trees, flooding, slips and potential road closures that could isolate communities.<\/p>\n
![\"Satellite](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4JQDGR1_Screenshot_2026_04_10_205040_png.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
\nSatellite imagery and the projected track of Cyclone Vaianu as it closes in on New Zealand.
\nPhoto: Zoom Earth\n<\/p>\n
![\"MetService](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4JQCR2P_Screenshot_11_4_2026_6528_www_metservice_com_jpeg.jpeg\")
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