Photos: Cyclone Gita causes devastation across New Zealand

Photos taken from across New Zealand reveal the devastation caused by Cyclone Gita.

Cyclone Gita hits Riwaka hard, Nelson Tasman district, New Zealand. Syuart Wilson stands in his front yard. Photo / Tim Cuff

Palmerston North Fire Brigade attend to a tree blocking the road at Tremaine Avenue, Palmerston North. Photo / Palmerston North Fire Brigade

Road washed away at Puponga near Takaka as as ex-tropical cyclone Gita lashes the South Island of New Zealand. Photo / Nicola Hartless

Evacuees are loaded into a Unimog after rescue from the Brooklyn area, Riwaka. Photo / Tim Cuff

Road washed out at Takaka 20 February 2018 as ex-tropical cyclone Gita hits the south island of New Zealand. Photo / Zara Lavanchy

A slip on Abel Tasman Drive at Wainui Hil near Takaka as ex-tropical cyclone Gita hits the South Island. Photo / Tasman District Council

People duck for cover as waves lash the New Plymouth Walkway in central New Plymouth this afternoon as cyclone Gita sweeps down the west coast towards the South Island. Photo Alan Gibson

Shirley Rowling, left, sits next to her friend Val A'Court and dog Monty, after they were rescued from their Brooklyn home near Riwaka. Photo / Tim Cuff

Debris, dumped by swells created by ex- Tropical Cyclone Gita, scattered over State Highway one between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Raging floodwaters gouged a chunk out of Speechlys Bridge, between Fairlie and Geraldine, on State Highway79. Photo / NZTA

Storm damage near Kaikoura: A slip on SH, 1 south of Kaikoura, in the Hundalees. Photo / NZTA

A cat in the hands of a rural fire officer rescued from a home in the Brooklyn area of Riwaka is taken to waiting evacuation truck. Photo / Tim Cuff

A tree blown down in Stratford, Taranaki. Photo / Ilona Hanne

Flooding in Riwaka. Photo / Frances Cook

Flooding at the base of Takaka Hill. Photo / James Thomas

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Kids are in the bath totally oblivious to the craziness Cyclone Gita is bringing outside only supposed to get worse tonight. Everyone please stay safe and look out for each other. Good to see the town coming together #CycloneGita #familyiseverything

A post shared by Tamanui Uerata (@tamanui.uerata) on Feb 19, 2018 at 10:37pm PST