Relief as Pam fails to deliver (+ video)

Strong winds, surging swells and some debris on the roads was the extent of Cyclone Pam passing by the Eastern Bay.

Rotorua, Whakatane and Opotiki district councils spent days preparing for yesterday's forecast severe weather - but the warnings of heavy rain and gale force winds did not eventuate.

Image 1 of 22: Whakatane Heads - photos sent in by Melissa Wood.

Opotiki mayor John Forbes said he was glimpsing blue sky yesterday afternoon.

"We are absolutely over the moon, we've dodged a significant bullet and not just the Eastern Bay but the whole lot of us.

"We've had some debris and driftwood crossing the state highway and there's been some magnificent seas running but basically we're very pleased. Look what happened in Port Vila, it was nothing like that damage there so we're very thankful."

Hawai Bay where the sea came over the road. PHOTO/ HUATAI JOSEPH

Mr Forbes said the preparations for the expected cyclone had been well managed.

"Firstly the Minister of Civil Defence got involved and teleconferenced all the regional Civil Defence controllers. Locally it was really good for us to practise and check our systems to make sure everything is working."

Mr Forbes said they were also getting in contact with Ni-Vanuatu working in the region to see if they could assist them in getting in touch with family back home.

In Whakatane, police cordoned off Muriwai Drive leading to the Whakatane Heads and West End Ohope as hundreds of local residents attempted to catch a glimpse of the spectacular surf brought on by the cyclone.

Traffic to the heads was steady all day with many people leaving their cars and walking out onto the grass beside the river mouth. Once cordons were in place, people walked to the bank of the Whakatane River to see the sea.

Large swells affected some coastal areas, roads and properties, officials said.

But apart from the sea swells, little rain and wind gusts meant the region went about its business as normal.

In Rotorua, more than 500 customers in Springfield were affected by a power cut, Unison said. It was one of three major breaks in supply due to Cyclone Pam. The other two were in Esk Valley in Hawke's Bay and Taupo -See www.dailypost.co.nz for storm photos and videos.