Cyclone Vaianu: Aucklanders advised to delay travel on Sunday as ferries cancelled, harbour bridge likely to close

Aucklanders are being advised to delay all unnecessary travel on Sunday because of the impact of Cyclone Vaianu, says the Auckland Transport Operations Centre.

The Auckland Transport Operations Centre (Atoc), a joint venture between Auckland Transport and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), has activated an incident management team and is monitoring the impacts of the weather system on the city’s transport network.

Atoc incident controller Zane Davidson said the forecast suggests the Auckland Harbour Bridge is most at risk of closure from midday Sunday, while surface flooding across the region could start to occur from late evening Saturday.

The Auckland Harbour Bridge is expected to be closed on Sunday. Photo / Hayden Woodward

“Based on the current forecast, we expect there could be periods of extended closures of the Auckland Harbour Bridge between midday Sunday until late evening,” Davidson said.

“I would strongly advise checking the status of the bridge before you travel from now onward, as the wind trajectory can change quickly and we may see strong gusts from this evening. You might want to take State Highways 16 and 18 regardless, to avoid the risk of a short-notice closure.

“If you do need to travel, please drive extra carefully and avoid areas where there is flooding. Take extra care in low-lying coastal areas, which are prone to flooding, such as State Highway 1 heading southbound after Esmonde Rd.

“Our contractors have secured construction sites and loose debris where possible ahead of the cyclone’s arrival. They are on standby to respond to increased flooding events and to keep a close watch on locations where slips may occur.”

Public transport cancellations

• From 11pm Saturday until at least 9am Sunday: Devonport, Waiheke, Half Moon Bay and Hobsonville Point ferry services. Waiheke bus services.
• From 3pm today for the remainder of Saturday: Pine Harbour Ferry services.
• Sunday: Rakino Island ferry services.
• Further delays and cancellations are expected as weather impacts increase.

Auckland Harbour Bridge

• Highly likely to close for extended periods from noon Sunday to late evening Sunday.
• Check the status of the bridge before travelling from Saturday evening

Roads and state highways

• Atoc is preparing for the possibility of road closures across the region.
• Closures will be updated here.

To report flooding happening now on roads or footpaths, phone Auckland Council on 09 301 10101. If the flooding is on a highway or motorway, call NZTA on 09 969 9800.

If there is an immediate risk to life on private property or public land, call 111.

States of emergency declared as coastal areas evacuated

The advice comes as regional states of emergency have been declared for Northland and Waikato (including the Coromandel), while coastal areas of Hawke’s Bay, Western Bay of Plenty and Whakatāne are under local states of emergency.

Evacuations were underway this afternoon in impacted areas in Waimārama, Ocean Beach, Te Awanga and Haumoana, in coastal Hawke’s Bay.

Hundreds of residents in low-lying, flood-prone or coastal areas of Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty are being urged to evacuate early, as concerns of a potentially unprecedented storm surge grow.

Whakatāne District Council ordered people in Ōhope’s West End to evacuate by 5pm today.

Severe weather set to hit this evening

Six warnings, including a rare red, and one heavy rain watch are in place for the upper North Island, starting from this evening.

Strong wind and heavy rain watches and warnings are in force for much of the North Island and upper South Island, including the Chatham Islands on Sunday and early Monday.

MetService has a red strong wind warning for the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island from 10pm today until 6pm tomorrow, with damaging gusts of 130km/h in exposed places and threats to life from flying items and falling trees.

A red strong wind warning is also in place for the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua from 4am until 8pm tomorrow.