As of Sunday evening, April 12, 2026, Cyclone Vaianu is moving across New Zealand’s North Island, bringing damaging winds, torrential rain, and massive coastal swells. MetService has characterized the storm as a “multi-hazard, potentially life-threatening event”.
Current Status & Landfall
- Landfall: The centre of Cyclone Vaianu made landfall near the Maketū Peninsula in the Bay of Plenty around midday Sunday.
- Movement: The system is tracking south-southeast across the North Island and is expected to exit near Hawke’s Bay late Sunday night.
Major Weather Impacts
- Damaging Winds: Wind gusts have reached 130–140 km/h in exposed areas. Red Wind Warnings remain in effect for Coromandel, Rotorua, and the Bay of Plenty until 9:00 PM Sunday.
- Torrential Rain: Over 100mm of rain has already fallen in areas like Whangarei, with totals of 250–300mm forecast for Eastland. Orange Rain Warnings cover much of the North Island and parts of the upper South Island (Marlborough).
- Coastal Conditions: Dangerous swells of 6–8 metres (and up to 11 metres offshore) are battering northeastern coastlines. A storm surge of approximately 0.5m is also possible.
Regional Updates & Safety
- States of Emergency: Regional states of emergency are active for Northland and Waikato (including Coromandel). Local states of emergency are in place for Tauranga, Whakatāne, Western Bay of Plenty, and Hawke’s Bay.
- Evacuations: Immediate evacuations have been ordered for coastal communities in Whakatāne (Ōhope and Thornton) and parts of Central Hawke’s Bay.
- Disruptions:
- Power: Over 5,000 properties are without power, primarily in the Bay of Plenty.
- Travel: Air New Zealand has cancelled over 90 regional flights; the Auckland Harbour Bridge faces potential closures due to high winds.
Conditions are expected to improve starting Monday, April 13, as the system moves into the southwest Pacific. For live localized updates, you can check the MetService Warnings Page or follow the RNZ Live Weather Feed.