Napier's Duncan MacPhee picking up supplies at Mitre 10 before Cyclone Vaianu strikes. Photo / Rafaella Melo
Hawke’s Bay residents are stepping up preparations as Cyclone Vaianu moves closer.
MetService was on Thursday warning of a high likelihood of severe weather upgrades in the coming days. The system, now classified as a Category 2 tropical cyclone, is expected to impact New Zealand this weekend and bring damaging winds, heavy rain and hazardous coastal conditions.
In a region where memories of Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 are still fresh, many residents are stocking up and preparing as the system approaches.
From water containers to generators, shoppers across the region said on Thursday they were taking precautions.
Napier resident Duncan MacPhee was among those picking up supplies, including a lantern, batteries and equipment for his generator.
“It looks pretty awful, the cyclone coming,” he said.
“I’ve got a whole lot of water bought and I’ll be stocking up on food as well.”
MacPhee said his experience during Gabrielle, when he was unable to return home for five days, had influenced how he was preparing this time.
After Gabrielle, Hastings’ Megan Fleming said preparation had become part of her life.
“I’m always prepared for a disaster,” she said.
She went to Mitre 10 this morning to buy a large water holder, making sure the family would have clean water at home.
Fleming said she felt calm about the situation because her household had backup systems in place, including solar panels and a pizza oven as an alternative cooking option.
Rural resident Nicole Tizzard, who lives near Waimārama, said she was “a little worried” about Cyclone Vaianu.
“We’ve got a generator since Gabrielle. So, we’ve tried that to make sure it’s still running and that’s all good. And we’re getting food supplies just in case,” she said.
“We are also preparing our yard. We’ve got outdoor furniture, so we’ll either bring that down or tie it down, and we’ve got torches, candles and a generator.”
Chris Verburg, also from the Waimārama area, said Cyclone Gabrielle was a “traumatic” event and had prompted him to invest in an electric vehicle to provide backup power.
“We use our electric vehicle to power the essentials, like water pump, fridges, freezers and the internet because we’re on Starlink, so we can stay in communication,” he said.
“We realised we needed some backup.”
Mitre 10 Mega Napier and Hastings managing director Stephen Ricketts said he had seen increased demand for emergency supplies.
“Customers are sensibly following MetService advice and taking a calm, practical approach to preparing ahead of Cyclone Vaianu,” he said.
“We’re well-positioned and ready to support our community before, during and after the weather comes through.”
Resident Russell Williams said he was less worried about preparedness.
“People tend to overreact to small things,” he said.
MetService meteorologist Alanna Burrows told Hawke’s Bay Today that while the exact impacts remain uncertain, she would “strongly recommend” people prepare.
“It’s definitely worth taking action, with a high chance of upgrade for warnings for both heavy rain and strong winds,” she said.
“This is likely to be a very impactful event. We want people to take it seriously.”
Burrows said while the cyclone is expected to weaken as it approaches New Zealand, it will remain a powerful system capable of producing widespread impacts.
She said the Bay could experience gusts of about 110km/h, with winds shifting direction as the system moves through.
Periods of heavy rain could lead to surface flooding, rising rivers and slips, while large swells are expected to affect coastal areas.
Burrows said waves offshore could exceed 4m, while inshore swells were currently forecast to reach about 2m.
High tide is expected about 1pm on Sunday and 1.30am on Monday in Napier.
Residents are being urged to stay up to date with forecasts, secure loose items and prepare for possible disruptions, including power outages and difficult driving conditions over the weekend.