Whakatāne District Council is closely monitoring Cyclone Vaianu, a Category 3 storm forecast to begin impacting parts of the country from early Sunday morning.
Emergency response planning has been activated, with the Council working alongside MetService New Zealand and partner agencies to track the system and prepare for potential impacts.
Whakatāne District Local Controller Nicholas Woodley says while there is still uncertainty around the cyclone’s exact path, the message is clear: prepare now.
“This is a system we are taking very seriously,” says Mr Woodley. “While we can’t yet say exactly what impacts we will see locally, there is enough uncertainty and potential risk - particularly around coastal surge and heavy rainfall - that people should be preparing now rather than waiting.”
Council crews are already responding to the effects of more than 24 hours of heavy rain, including surface flooding, downed trees and localised road issues. With ground conditions saturated, the risk of slips and landslides is heightened, especially in steep or vulnerable areas.
“We are dealing with two things at once,” says Mr Woodley. “There’s the immediate impact of the current wet weather, and the need to plan ahead for what Cyclone Vaianu could bring on top of that. That combination increases the likelihood of impacts escalating quickly.”
Mr Woodley says now is the time to make practical preparations.
“We know how quickly weather impacts can escalate in this district,” says Mr Woodley. “Preparing early - securing loose items, planning for possible power outages, and thinking about what you would do if access became limited - helps avoid rushed decisions later.”
While no evacuations are required at this stage, the Council is encouraging residents, particularly those in coastal areas, areas - or anyone who feels unsafe - to make early arrangements to stay with friends or family if needed.
“Cyclone conditions are currently forecast to arrive around 3am Sunday. No one wants to be evacuating in the dark, in severe weather,” says Mr Woodley. “If you have concerns about your safety, the safest option is to move early - ideally before Saturday night - and stay with friends or whānau.”
If evacuations become necessary, they will be led by Police, with affected properties door knocked directly.
People are also urged to stay well clear of beaches, river mouths and coastal areas, where conditions can become unpredictable very quickly.
If required, a Welfare Centre will be activated at the Whakatāne War Memorial Hall, and potentially other locations if needed, with clear instructions provided at the time.
Residents who notice issues such as flooding, slips, fallen trees or road damage are asked to report them through the correct channels so they can be triaged and responded to quickly:
Urgent issues: Call Council’s 24/7 call centre on 07 306 0500
Nonurgent issues: Log them using the Fix It and Report a Problem form on the Council’s website
The Council will continue operating in a heightened monitoring mode and will provide clear, factual updates through its website, Facebook page, and local radio as the situation develops.
“Our priority is keeping our communities safe and wellinformed,” says Mr Woodley. “Prepared beats panicked. This is about being ready, not being alarmed.”