Cyclone Vaianu approaches New Zealand with severe winds and heavy rain

Cyclone Vaianu has made landfall on New Zealand’s North Island, bringing severe impacts. It transitioned into an extratropical cyclone but retained significant strength.

Current Status

As of April 12, 2026, Vaianu crossed the coast near Maketu peninsula in the Bay of Plenty. The system continues moving south across the North Island toward the South Island and Southern Ocean.

Wind Conditions

Destructive gusts exceeded 130 km/h near landfall, with peaks up to 150 km/h recorded in areas like Bay of Plenty and Waikato. Strong winds battered northern and eastern coasts, causing widespread power outages for thousands.

Rainfall and Flooding

Heavy rain has already delivered 100 mm locally in Northland, Coromandel, and Eastland, with forecasts of 100-300 mm over the next 24 hours across most of the North Island. Rates of 25-40 mm/h threaten eastern areas, prompting flood warnings and states of emergency in Waikato, Coromandel, Northland, Western Bay of Plenty, and Hawke’s Bay.

Impacts and Response

Hundreds have been evacuated due to floods and coastal swells; officials describe it as worse than initially prepared for. MetService urges monitoring warnings at metservice.com, with RED alerts possible.