New Zealand’s North Island braces for Cyclone Vaianu with thousands ordered to evacuate

• 01Cyclone Vaianu is forecast to bring winds of up to 130 km/h (80 mph) and heavy rain, expected to hit on Sunday and pass west of the Chatham Islands on Monday
• 02Thousands of New Zealanders were ordered to evacuate their homes on Saturday
• 03Several regions were placed under emergency declarations on Saturday
• 04Evacuations were ordered in parts of Whakatāne, a city with a population of 37,150 located about 430 km north of Wellington
• 05The Whakatāne district council posted on Facebook: 'Residents should plan to be away for at least two days'
• 06Authorities warned the storm could cause landslides, storm surges, waves of up to 13 meters, and coastal flooding
• 07Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Friday the cyclone 'had the potential to be damaging' and urged those in its path to prepare
• 08Luxon posted on X: 'Make sure drains are free, check in on the neighbours, and be prepared for possible power cuts'
• 09Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 killed 11 people and displaced thousands in what was described as New Zealand's biggest natural disaster this century

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New Zealand ordered thousands of residents to evacuate their homes on Saturday as Cyclone Vaianu, forecast to bring winds up to 130 km/h and heavy rain, approached the North Island for Sunday impact. Authorities warned of potential coastal flooding, landslides, and storm surges affecting multiple regions including Whakatāne. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged residents to prepare and secure their properties ahead of the storm.