Cyclone Gita: Tasman power outages, state highway 'severely' damaged

Taranaki and Tasman, followed by the West Coast of the South Island, have been hardest hit by ex-cyclone Gita.

Fire and Emergency received more than 400 weather-related calls yesterday between 2pm and midnight.

Communications advisor Joss Debreceny says there were another 25 calls between midnight and 4.30am.

They are expecting more calls as day breaks and people wake-up to discover damage.

Debreceny says the calls were clustered around Taranaki and Tasman yesterday but have been more spread out in the last few hours.

He says crews have been helping with clean-up around the country and resolving calls received yesterday.

The state of emergency remains in Nelson after it was lashed overnight by 120km/h winds gusts.

Nelson Tasman Civil Defence and Emergency Management will be out assessing the situation at first light this morning.

More than 100 people sought refuge in welfare centres last night as the storm hammered the area, with welfare centres set up in Takaka, Motueka, Marahau and Collingwood.

Fifteen tourists had to spend the night at the Takaka Recreation Centre.

Meanwhile power is still out in Upper Takaka, Kaiteriteri, Riwaka and Marahau this morning.

State Highway 60 on the Riwaka side of Takaka Hill is closed and "severely damaged" by slips and fallen trees in places, authorities warn.

"Nelson Tasman Civil Defence and Emergency Management will be assessing alternative means of transporting people and goods until the road is able to be reopened", Civil Defence said.

The state of emergency remains in Nelson after it was lashed overnight by 120km/h winds gusts.
Nelson Tasman Civil Defence and Emergency Management will be out assessing the situation at first light this morning.

More than 100 people sought refuge in welfare centres last night as the storm closed in, with welfare centres set up in Takaka, Motueka, Marahau and Collingwood.

Power is out in Upper Takaka, Kaiteriteri, Riwaka and Marahau.

State Highway 60 on the Riwaka side of Takaka Hill is closed and "severely damaged" in places, authorities warn.

Here's tonight's final update on Cyclone Gita. Hang tight, we'll see you in the morning. https://t.co/654yfn4agU

— Nelson Tasman CDEM (@NelsonTasmanCD) February 20, 2018

"Nelson Tasman Civil Defence and Emergency Management will be assessing alternative means of transporting people and goods until the road is able to be reopened", Civil Defence said.

The forecast for Nelson today is for some heavy showers this afternoon.
The storm caused by Cyclone Gita peaked at round 6pm last night.

About four thousand people were without power in the Tasman district, as lines are taken down across the region.

Nelson Tasman Civil Defence said areas from Kina beach to Takaka - including Kaiteriteri - had their electricity cut.

The forecast for Nelson today is for some heavy showers this afternoon.
The storm caused by Cyclone Gita peaked at round 6pm last night.

About four thousand people were without power in the Tasman district, as lines are taken down across the region.

Nelson Tasman Civil Defence said areas from Kina beach to Takaka - including Kaiteriteri - had their electricity cut.