New Zealand – Cyclone Gabrielle

The designated operator of New Zealand, New Zealand Post, has informed that a national state of emergency was declared on 14 February 2023 at 8.43 (local time) in response to Cyclone Gabrielle. Local states of emergency had previously been declared in the following regions and districts of the upper North Island: Northland, Auckland, Tairawhiti, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Waikato and Hawke’s Bay.

Owing to the severity of this weather event and the scale of the emergency, the central government has taken over from the local authorities and is now managing the response in accordance with the Civil Defence Act.

The upper North Island is most severely affected, but significant impacts are forecast in the lower North Island and upper/central South Island. Weather warnings/watches are in place in the following areas: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island and other islands in the Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Mount Taranaki, Wairarapa (including the Tararua district), Wellington, Horowhenua, Kapiti Coast, Turikirae Head to Mataikona, Marlborough, Nelson, areas south of Blenheim (including the Kaikoura Coast, Canterbury Plains and the foothills north of the Rakaia River) and the Chatham Islands.

In order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its customers and staff, New Zealand Post has decided to implement the following measures:

–       Suspension of all deliveries in red alert areas;

–       Suspension of air network operations;

–       Suspension of all line haul services to the Far North, Gisborne and Coromandel areas.

New Zealand Post is currently conducting an assessment and the situation is being monitored closely.

New Zealand Post thanks all partners and customers for their understanding, and will inform them once the situation has returned to normal.