Bay of Plenty Civil Defence is keeping an eagle eye on high tide which is due around 1.45am.
It was concerned about coastal inundation - or flooding from the sea - for people living on the coast.
It reminded Waihi Beach, Athenree, Maketu and Pukehina residents to stay on high alert after warnings were sent earlier saying they may be forced to evacuate.
It would provide updates on its Facebook page throughout the night.
Bay of Plenty Civil Defencesent an emergency mobile alert to Pukehina residents just before midnight because there was a risk they might need to evacuate overnight.
Residents were not required to evacuate at this stage but if they felt unsafe they were encouraged to leave.
“If you can’t go to friends or family and you do need to evacuate, the Pongakawa Action Centre is open. It won’t be fancy but you will be safe and dry.”
11.50pm: Firefighter callouts
More than 100 pleas for help were made to Fire and Emergency New Zealand between 10pm and 11pm.
Twenty-one were in Northland, 28 in Auckland, 32 in Waikato, 23 in Bay of Plenty and 6 in Hawke’s Bay. Regionally, staff were responding:
A flooded house and a roof on fire in Thames-Coromandel District.
Loose roofing in Taupo District.
Minor property damage in Rotorua District.
10.40pm: Western Bay mayor announces state of emergency
Western Bay of Plenty mayor James Denyer has declared a state of emergency tonight and additional evacuation centres have been made available:
RSA Waihī Beach – 99 Beach Road, Waihī Beach
Pongakawa Action Centre – 956 Old Coach Road
Tuapiro Marae - 24 Hikurangi Road, Tahawai
Orchard Church in Te Puke – 20 MacLoughlin Drive, Te Puke
Katikati Baptist Church – 2 Wedgewood Street, Katikati
Athenree Homestead and Station - 360 Athenree Road, Athenree Gorge
These centres, operated by local community response teams, have the bare essentials – tea and coffee – with people needing to take their own warm clothes and blankets, and snacks.
Pets are not allowed inside the centres and will need to remain in their cages in vehicles.
Those who receive a text message asking residents to evacuate are asked to follow instructions and move to higher ground.
While the declaration wouldn’t mean much for the community, Western Bay Civil Defence Controller Scott Parker said it made a few more resources available in its response.
“With this declaration, we can do things a little more quickly and use the powers under the civil defence and emergency act and additional resources to get things done when people are at risk.”
10.30pm: Trees and debris on roads
Tauranga City Council has asked people to avoid all unnecessary travel this evening.
It is hearing reports of trees and debris covering roads in multiple locations. Emergency services and council contractors were responding as quickly as possible, it said on Facebook.
“Should you discover a fallen streetlight or power pole, do not attempt to move or touch it as there may be a risk of electrocution. To report fallen trees, debris or power poles please call our contact centre on 07 577 7000.”
9.50pm: Be ready to evacuate
Waihi Beach, Athenree and Maketu residents may need to evacuate overnight with emergency mobile alerts issued within the past hour.
Bay of Plenty Civil Defence said people were not required to evacuate at this stage but may need to if the storm worsens.
“If you have friends and whanau in Maketu, please check that they received the message. There are starting to be power cuts and we want as many people to be prepared as possible.
“Maketu people who need a safe place to evacuate can go to the Pongakawa Action Centre.”
RSA Waihi Beach is open for evacuations too and power is out to a number of homes in the area.
“Please call and check on whanau in Waihi beach and Athenree and ask them to be prepared to evacuate if needed.”
9.05pm: Latest weather warning and watches
A further 70 to 100mm of rain is expected to accumulate on top of what has already fallen in the Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane between 9pm tonight and 6am tomorrow. Strong southeast winds with severe gale gusting 120km/h to 130km/h were also forecast.
In the Coromandel, a further 80 to 120mm of rain about the ranges was forecast with lesser amounts about the coast through to 6am tomorrow.
A strong wind warning was also n place until 9am tomorrow with severe gale east to southeasterlies and gusts reaching 120km/h to 130km/h in exposed places.
8.10pm: Regional state of emergency
Bay of Plenty Civil Defence has declared a regional state of emergency tonight.
The declaration allows Civil Defence to “act more quickly and get the things we need to respond when lives and property are at risk”, it said in a Facebook post.
This includes things like:
Closing roads or public places.
Undertaking works – for example, earthworks required for stabilising land and properties.
Entering a property to rescue people or save lives.
Removing or securing dangerous structures and material.
Providing first aid, food or shelter.
Under a state of emergency, people can still go about their normal life if they are not affected.
The Tauranga City Council emergency operations would continue to monitor the situation throughout the night and were ready to respond to any issue as they arise.
The state of emergency also includes Rotorua but coastal areas were the primary focus at this stage, Rotorua Lakes Council said.
“Because coastal areas are experiencing a degree of risk, having a regional declaration in place provides us all with more certainty and allows us to place resources where best needed.
“Strong winds are the main concern for Rotorua at this stage and staff are monitoring conditions and are on standby to respond to concerns as they arise.”
Earlier today, Bay of Plenty Civil Defence public information manager Lisa Glass said it expected the cyclone to hit the region overnight.
“This event could see strong and unusual coastal inundation/storm surges as well as the more usual effects of rainfall and high winds.
“Based on what we are seeing further north, we are anticipating potential flooding and evacuations, power outages, road blockages and slips.
“Our main message is for people to do whatever they need to do to stay safe. For most people that means staying put. For some, it may mean self-evacuating. If you don’t feel safe, don’t wait for official evacuation advice.”
7pm: Prepare to evacuate
People in low-lying coastal or harbour areas of the Western Bay of Plenty have been told to prepare to leave their homes and to make the call to go before dark.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council urged residents to prepare even if they did not live in a flood zone.
Emergency evacuation centres had been set up at the Waihī Beach RSA and at Pongakawa Action Centre but plans were in place for others to open if needed.
The council encouraged people to stay with friends and family in the first instance.
”Waihī Beach and Pukehina are the biggest concern for potential storm surges and the largest number of evacuees. But there are plans already in place for further centres across our rohe to open if needed, including Bowentown, Katikati and Te Puke.”
6.30pm: More emergency shelters opened
The following locations have been opened as emergency shelters in case people need to evacuate:
People needing to use one of these shelters are reminded that they must bring everything they need including clothes, food, medication, a sleeping bag and a pillow.
Pets are welcome at the Baypark emergency shelter.
The number of people calling 111 for assistance in Cyclone Gabrielle is increasing in Northland, Auckland and Coromandel.
Fire and Emergency logged 41 storm-related incidents from 4-5pm, bringing the total for the previous 12 hours to 305 (note that this is a rolling 12-hour period).
Of the 41 incidents logged between 4-5pm, 15 are in Northland, 16 in Auckland, nine in Waikato and one in Bay of Plenty.
5pm: Rotorua rubbish collection
Rubbish collection tomorrow and Wednesday will operate as normal in Rotorua but as a precaution the council has asked people to not to put them out tonight with strong winds expected overnight.
Glass recycling and yellow bin recycling collection is cancelled for tomorrow and Wednesday due to processing disruptions caused by the weather. For those areas affected by the recycling cancellations, council said to hold onto your recycling until the next scheduled collection day.
4.30pm: Conserve water plea
Tauranga City Council is asking residents to “do their best” to conserve water over the coming days because its water treatment plants were likely to come under pressure from storm sediment.
“It’s highly likely the rain the city experiences over the next few days will stir up sediment in local streams, which will make treating the water a lot harder and it’s probable we’ll need to shut down our treatment plants for a time.
“In the event of a shutdown our reservoirs hold enough drinkable water to last 24-48 hours so we appreciate your ongoing support in conserving water while we weather this storm together.”
A state of local emergency was declared at 3pm by Whakatāne District acting mayor Lesley Immink and a mandatory evacuation order had been made to around 100 homes.
The declaration provides additional emergency management powers to the district controller and enables the Civil Defence response to call on support from outside the district if required.
Emergency management powers allow the council’s response team to do things like close off areas, evacuate people and get the resources needed to respond to this event.
About 100 properties in total are affected by the mandatory evacuation.
They were all homes in West End Ōhope, up to and including the Beach Point Apartment complex, and about nine homes identified on Harbour Rd, Port Ōhope that are particularly low-lying.
A roadblock will be in place at the start of West End and managed by police from early this evening. Those who must evacuate from affected properties will have until 7pm to leave.
The mandatory evacuation will be in place until 3pm Tuesday. Re-entry will be reassessed tomorrow after high tide at 1.35pm.
The council made a “strong recommendation” for all other parts of Ōhope and Port Ōhope that are exposed to storm surges to consider self-evacuation.
A dedicated emergency evacuation centre has been set up at Whakatāne War Memorial Hall and opened at noon for those who must, or choose to, evacuate and do not have family or friends to go to.
3.45pm: Tauranga kerbside collection
Kerbside collections were on track today except for glass collections between Girven and Golf Rds (excluding Oceanbeach Rd), Tauranga City Council says.
Glass will not be collected in this area today. Affected residents are asked to bring their glass crate in for the night and put it out again tomorrow by 7am.
Tuesday collections are still scheduled to go ahead in Pāpāmoa.
3.30pm: Ōpōtiki homes evacuating
Ōpōtiki District Council is evacuating residents in low-lying areas of Ohiwa Spit, Kutarere, the Tirohanga Motor Camp, and low-lying areas along State Highway 35 - Opape, Torere, Maraenui, Whanarua Bay, Waihau Bay, Raukokore, and Whangaparāoa.
These properties and their residents are being contacted directly by Civil Defence staff and fire services. Council will be calling and door-knocking throughout the afternoon and expect to have called or contacted 350-400 households by this evening.
This morning, Ōpōtiki mayor David Moore declared a state of emergency.
3.30pm: Emergency evacuation centres open in Western Bay
Emergency evacuation centres in Waihī Beach and Pongakawa will open their doors to the Western Bay of Plenty community tonight.
Waihī Beach RSA and Pongakawa Action Centre will be open from 7.30pm for residents who need a dry, safe place to stay as the Western Bay prepares for heavy rain, wind and storm surges overnight.
RSA Waihī Beach – 99 Beach Road, Waihī Beach
Pongakawa Action Centre – 956 Old Coach Rd
These centres, operated by local community response teams, have the bare essentials – tea and coffee – with people needing to take their own warm clothes and blankets, and snacks. Pets are not allowed inside the centres and will need to remain in their cages in vehicles.
Waihī Beach and Pukehina are the biggest concern for potential storm surges and the largest number of evacuees but plans are in place for further centres to open if needed, including Bowentown, Katikati and Te Puke.
The Seaview Rd and Beach Rd roundabout was closed to prevent access to the Esplanade, meanwhile, Junction Rd was also closed due to a small overslip.
There was a heavy rain warning for the Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne until 6am tomorrow with 100 to 180mm of rain expected to accumulate with peak rates between 10 to 15mm/h.
It was possible rates could increase to 20 to 30mm/h this afternoon and evening.
A strong wind watch was in place until 9am tomorrow with southeast winds forecast and severe gale gusting from 120km/h to 130km/h in exposed places.
There was a heavy rain watch for the Bay of Plenty from Whakatāne eastwards and the eastern ranges of Taupō between 10am today and 6am tomorrow.
There would be periods of heavy easterly rain and accumulations may approach warning criteria.
In addition, the stop gates on SH26 on the Paeroa College side of the bridge may also need to be used, which will result in an additional road closure.
State highway closures update:
SH2 Paeroa to Waihī – via Karangakake Gorge – Open but expect closure: The gorge may need to be closed later today due to flooding.
SH25 Thames to Coromandel: Open - essential travel only: Multiple fallen trees and debris obstructing and blocking lanes along the length of the Thames Coast. Flooding is expected later this afternoon at the Kauaeranga River spillway just near the airfield in Thames which may close SH25 here.
SH25 Coromandel to Kūaotunu: Closed in areas: A slip is blocking both lanes on the Coromandel/ Whangapoua Hill and there are multiple trees down. Due to slips, surface flooding, fallen vegetation and debris, extreme caution is advised.
SH25 Kūaotunu to Whitianga: Closed
SH25 Whitianga to Hikuai – Open but essential travel only. Extreme caution is advised.
SH25 Hikuai to Waihī – Open
SH26 Morrinsville to Te Aroha – Closed: A fallen tree is blocking SH26 immediately south of Te Aroha, near Grattan Rd
SH25A – Fully closed over full length: Powerlines down on Kopu side of summit slip closure.
SH26 Te Aroha to Paeroa and SH26 between Paeroa to Kopu - Open
A ute drives through floodwaters rising in Whitianga, Coromandel as Cyclone Gabrielle arrives in New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
2.25pm: Surfers brave Mount Maunganui swells
Footage provided to the Bay of Plenty Times shows people surfing around the side of Mauao on Monday.
A surfer said conditions were “very windy and bumpy” and waves were “well over head high”. There were three people paddling into waves and two others getting towed in by jet skis, he said.
1.30pm: Bay of Plenty Regional Council flood room activated
As a precaution for the forecast weather, the council activated the flood room this afternoon.
This means its flood team is set up in our dedicated flood room (based in Whakatāne) and will be closely monitoring the situation as it develops. This includes coastal conditions, as well as river conditions.
It also has operations staff out in the field checking the condition of flood infrastructure, assessing the weather conditions in key areas and pumping out flood waters from affected drainage canals.
