KEY POINTS:
Forty-two people have received medical treatment after their cruise ship rolled sharply in heavy seas caused by the storm sweeping New Zealand.
The storm has lashed New Zealand and is currently drenching the South Island.
P&O cruises said the ship Pacific Sun was hit by 7 metre swells
and 50 knot winds when it suddenly rolled 600km north of Auckland just before 8pm yesterday.
A spokesperson said onboard medical staff treated about 40 passengers as a result of the sudden movement.
The ship was due in Auckland this morning but the bad weather has delayed its arrival by 24 hours.
Maritime authorities are monitoring the cruise liner which is now sitting about 300 nautical miles (540km) north east of New Zealand.
The vessel's crew reported that 42 passengers have received medical attention after the vessel was hit by the severe weather conditions and suffered a sudden heavy roll around 8pm last night. The vessel, carrying 1732 passengers and 671 crew, was en route to Auckland following an eight day cruise in the South Pacific.
The New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre has asked the ship to send regular updates on its status.
The vessel has not reported that it is in distress.
A Maritime NZ safety inspector will visit the vessel to check on her when she arrives in port, which is scheduled for tomorrow.
Passengers emailing the Herald from the Pacific Sun said the sudden movement had caused a mess in parts of the ship.
But some families in New Zealand told the Herald that email from the ship was only intermittent and it is hard to get in touch with the Pacific Sun, except by satellite phone.
Cerise Jordan emailed the Herald to say that her mother is on board the liner.
"She has confirmed that there are a number of passengers injured. Most with varying degrees of bruising. She stated clearly that the staff have been fantastic in extremely difficult circumstances.
"Last night when the ship rolled she and her party were in the casino. They were injured as a result of machines coming loose and rolling into them. When in the dining hall the ship rolled again and she said all the crockery went flying."
Some of the families of injured passengers on board a cruise ship battered by rough seas north of Auckland have heard about their loved ones through the media.
";Kim"; from Christchurch is trying to contact her elderly father, sister and friends on the cruise.
She says they were told this morning that the ship was going to be delayed 24 hours because of the weather, but did not know about the injuries until listening to news bulletins.
- NZ Herald Staff, NewstalkZB.
