Cyclone Gita prompts cancelled flights at Tauranga Airport

Air New Zealand has cancelled all flights to and from Wellington. Photo/file

Flights from Tauranga Airport to Wellington have been cancelled this afternoon.

Air New Zealand has cancelled all flights in and out of Wellington and four other centres as Cyclone Gita starts packing a punch with heavy winds and rain.

The airline has cancelled all Capital services from 2.45pm today through until midnight as well as those to and from Hokitika, Nelson (from 12pm), New Plymouth (from 11am) and Queenstown.

The flights to Wellington are the only ones at Tauranga Airport to be affected, at this stage.

The Tauranga area is expected to escape the worst of Cyclone Gita but weather experts have warned of potential severe gales to hit from this afternoon.

The worst of the weather will be felt at the south of the North Island and north of the South Island. Read more about Cyclone Gita here.

More than 57 schools and kindergartens are closed and State Highway 1 is shut north and south of Kaikoura because of heavy rain as Gita starts to make its presence known.