Cyclone Gabrielle Triggers Floods and Landslides in New Zealand

The Government in New Zealand has declared a National State of Emergency in response to Cyclone Gabrielle. The declaration will apply to the regions of Northland, Auckland, Tairāwhiti (Gisborne), Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay and Tararua District.

Cyclone Gabrielle brought strong winds with gusts of up to 127 km/h, rough seas, storm surge and heavy rain from 12 February 2023. Raparapaririki in Gisborne recorded 568 mm of rain in 48 hours to 14 February.

The Minister for Emergency Management, Kieran McAnulty, said, “This is an unprecedented weather event that is having major impacts across much of the North Island.

“The emergency order enables the government to streamline its response to the disaster. It has been applied to the Northland, Auckland, Tairawhiti, Tararua, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Hawke’s Bay regions.”

New Zealand has only previously declared a national state of emergency on two other occasions – during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.