Hastings Mayor Wendy Schollum has told people living on the coast in the district to think seriously about evacuating their homes ahead of Cyclone Vaianu.
Hawke’s Bay is bracing for its first cyclone since the devastation of Gabrielle in February 2023.
Vaianu’s potential path through Hawke’s Bay, which was scheduled to arrive in the region about noon on Sunday, has prompted MetService to issue an orange weather warning for the region.
On Friday, events including Sunday’s Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market and Napier City Rovers’ Sunday afternoon match with Island Bay were put off due to the incoming storm.
Wairoa District Council said it was expecting waves up “around 7m” on Sunday and warned residents to stay away from the coast.
Forecaster Heather Keats told Ryan Bridge Today there was now more clarity on the path of the “very large, damaging weather system”.
“It’s expected to cross over the top of the Coromandel Peninsula, move over Bay of Plenty, come across Hawke’s Bay and flick out to the east.
“Winds will be the biggest impact from the storm – it’s very fast – so it’ll race across on Sunday, but the worst weather will be felt on either side of the eye of the storm and last about 36 to 48 hours.”
MetService placed Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Taihape under an orange strong wind warning from 10am on Sunday to 2am on Monday.
Its forecast was for severe gale easterlies, changing to severe gale westerlies by Sunday afternoon or evening, gusting to 130km/h in exposed places, with a moderate chance of the warning being upgraded to red.
MetService also had a heavy rain watch from 2am to 6pm Sunday for Gisborne, about and south of Tolaga Bay, Hawke’s Bay ranges and coastal hills south of Napier.
There was a high chance on Friday of the watch upgrading to a warning.
Periods of heavy rain were likely, with amounts potentially approaching or exceeding warning criteria, large swells and coastal inundation.
Difficult driving conditions for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles were also predicted.
MetService warned streams and rivers may rise rapidly, causing surface flooding and slips.
It recommended clearing drains and gutters, avoiding low-lying areas and driving cautiously.
In Tararua, a heavy rain watch (with a moderate chance of being upgraded to a warning) and strong wind watch (with a high chance of being upgraded to a warning) were in place from 11am to 11pm Sunday.
Tararua could expect periods of heavy rain and easterly winds turning west to southwesterly and severe gales in exposed places.
MetService meteorologist Alanna Burrows said the worst of the weather would happen during the warning and watch timeframes.
“Those are the times that people should be concerned about and take action for.”
Burrows said the marine forecast for inshore Hawke Bay showed easterly 2-3m swells and northeasterly waves rising to 3m south of Mahia Peninsula.
In a Facebook post, Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group recommended residents ready for the cyclone by securing loose items, removing debris around properties, checking on neighbours and being prepared with an emergency plan and a grab bag.
Hawke’s Bay Coastguard skipper Henry van Tuel reminded boaties to check mooring lines and ensure boats were secured.
Hastings District Council emergency management controller Craig Cameron said it was a “very serious situation”.
“We need people to prepare and make a plan now. I can’t stress this enough.”
Mayor Wendy Schollum on Friday afternoon said people living on the coast should “think seriously about going to friends or family” away from the coast to wait out the cyclone.
Hastings District Council had delayed the opening of the Osmanthus Gardens Lantern Festival to Monday evening, weather permitting, while businesses such as Brave Brewery were also pre-emptively shutting their doors on Sunday to prevent people travelling in.
Winston Peters’ public meeting at Toitoi Events Centre on Sunday was also postponed on Friday.
Motorsport fans heading to Taupō for the 2026 Supercars Championship were being urged by NZTA to plan their journeys carefully and to check weather conditions before travelling.
NZTA recommended staying up to date on road conditions on their website.