Cyclone Pam: Port of Napier closed

Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management group manager Ian MacDonald warned waves of 5-6m were predicted.

The Port of Napier has been closed, and emergency services will be monitoring beach towns during high tide, at 2.30pm as ex-tropical cyclone Pam continues to track past New Zealand.

Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management group manager Ian MacDonald warned waves of 5-6m were predicted.

"We have visited local communities who may be affected and we will be keeping an eye on our beaches, in particular, Haumoana, Te Awanga, Waimarama and Ocean Beach," Mr Macdonald said.

MetService meteorologist John Law said winds would increase on the east coast as the storm moved southward.

Hicks Bay and the East Cape had average wind speeds of 85km/h, and gusts of wind of up to 120km/h.

The Eastern Bay of Plenty would experience stronger winds as well, while heavy rain warnings also remained in place for Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and the eastern Bay of Plenty.

WeatherWatch said Pam was expected to be within 180 km of East Cape by 1pm today.

"Now the centre of the storm is moving in on East Cape - and while some data has backed off on yesterday's more ominous outlook for today it still looking potentially damaging," WeatherWatch said.

"Pam was this morning downgraded to an ex-tropical cyclone but the winds and rain around it remain severe and powerful still ... but are substantially weaker than when the storm was Category 5 just 24 hours ago."