More areas of the North Island are now under red weather warnings as Cyclone Vaianu nears, with the force of the storm set to hit from this evening.
The strong wind warnings for Bay of Plenty and Rotorua have been upgraded to the highest setting, joining Coromandel and Great Barrier Island.
Follow 1News' live updates on Cyclone Vaianu here
At 1pm, the centre of the cyclone was 500km north of New Zealand, but cloud and winds associated with it were already affecting the North Island.
Orange wind and rain warnings and yellow watches continue to cover the North Island, MetService said in an update this afternoon.
The only South Island area under a warning is eastern Marlborough which has an orange heavy rain warning in place.
MetService Meteorologist John Law said: “Cyclone Vaianu remains on its path towards us and is set to bring damaging winds, heavy rain and large swells. The red severe weather warnings represent our highest level of alert."
A rare red level heavy wind warning in the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island was earlier extended to 20 hours from 10am Saturday to 6pm Sunday, with gusts of up to 130/kmh possible in exposed areas.
The forecaster said the "very large, damaging system" could cause widespread damage across the region and warned of a possible "threat to life" to residents from flying items and falling trees.
"Stay indoors or seek sturdy shelter away from trees. Avoid travel. Be ready for power and communication outages," it said.
Orange level heavy rain warnings have been issued in The Tararua District for 13hrs from 11am to midnight Sunday, and in the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges for 8hrs from 3am to 9pm Sunday.
In the South Island, a yellow level heavy rain warning has been upgraded to orange in Eastern Marlborough between Blenheim and Kaikoura for 14hrs from 9am to 11pm Sunday, with
In Wairarapa, Cape Palliser (Lighthouse) to Mataikona, a heavy swell warning has been issued for a period of 7hrs from 4pm to 11pm Sunday, with MetService warning of combined waves reaching 6.5m by mid to late Sunday afternoon.
Heavy rain warnings remained in place for Northland, Auckland and Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Tolaga Bay across Saturday evening and Sunday.
A strong wind warning was also issued for the Tararua District for 9hrs from 11pm Sun to 8am, while existing wind warnings across the upper North Island remained in place.
According to MetService, the Far North would be the first to experience strong winds, heavy rain, and rough seas brought by Vaianu from late Saturday.
Overnight and into Sunday, the storm will move south-eastwards across the North Island.
"The combination of damaging winds, heavy rain, and coastal inundation makes this a multi-hazard, potentially life-threatening event," the forecaster said.
"The locations of the most severe impacts associated with Cyclone Vaianu, such as power outages, falling trees, flooding, slips, road closures, and isolated communities, are highly dependent on the cyclone's track.
"People are urged to keep up to date with the latest forecasts, adjust plans as needed and be prepared to act, following all advice of local authorities."
1News meteorologist Dan Corbett said last night that the swirl was still "quite active" with "good flare-ups" to the centre, meaning it "still had some punch".
Corbett said that wind and rain would hit the Far North in the early hours of Sunday, then Rodney, and parts of Auckland.
He said "piling wind gusts" would arrive in the Coromandel later in the day.
"This could be potentially nasty," he said.
Events cancelled and families pack up ahead of Cyclone Vaianu coming in from the north. (Source: 1News)
MetService said there could be severe gale easterlies changing to severe gale west to northwesterlies for the Coromandel on Sunday afternoon, with "damaging" gusts of 140km/h. Winds would start to ease throughout the afternoon as Vaianu moves south.
As Sunday goes on, Vaianu will move south towards the lower North Island and upper South Island, bringing heavy rain and high winds of up to 130 km/h in some exposed places.
"This is going to be a nasty thing," Corbett said.
People in affected areas were urged to be prepared.
This included charging phones and power banks, having a battery-powered radio to listen for updates, preparing a grab bag for everyone in your household, making an evacuation plan, and tying down anything strong winds could pick up, like trampolines.
READ MORE: Cyclone Vaianu - How to prepare before the storm hits
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell said her would be in Auckland this morning, witking with NEMA to prepare for the cyclone.
"The Government, MetService, NEMA, Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups, NZDF, Police and FENZ are closely monitoring Cyclone Vaianu and readiness activities are underway across agencies and CDEM Groups ahead of the Cyclone’s arrival," he said.
"The Government stands ready to provide support as required."
Full list of weather warnings:
Warnings
Strong Wind Warning – Red
Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island – 20 hours from 10pm Sat 11 Apr to 6pm Sun 12 Apr.
Bay of Plenty and Rotorua - 16hrs from 4am - 8pm Sun 12 Apr.
Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Waikato, Waitomo, Taupō and Taumarunui – 20 hours from 2am to 10pm Sun 12 Apr.
Northland – 17 hours from 9pm Sat 11 Apr to 2pm Sun 12 Apr.
Auckland – 20 hours from 10pm Sat 11 Apr to 6pm Sun 12 Apr.
Gisborne/Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay and Taihape – 17 hours from 9am Sun 12 Apr to 2am Mon 13 Apr.
The Tararua District – 9 hours from 11pm Sun 12 Apr to 8am Mon 13 Apr.
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Northland (about and south of Bay of Islands to Hokianga Harbour) – 12 hours from 9pm Sat 11 Apr to 9am Sun 12 Apr.
Auckland and Great Barrier Island – 17 hours from 9pm Sat 11 Apr to 2pm Sun 12 Apr.
Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne, including Rotorua – 17 hours from 11pm Sat 11 Apr to 4pm Sun 12 Apr.
Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Tolaga Bay – 14 hours from 2am to 4pm Sun 12 Apr.
Kāweka and Ruahine Ranges – 18 hours from 3am to 9pm Sun 12 Apr.
The Tararua Range – 13 hours from 11am to midnight Sun 12 Apr.
Eastern Marlborough (especially between Blenheim and Kaikōura, and about the Richmond Range) – 14 hours from 9am to 11pm Sun 12 Apr.
Watches
Heavy Rain Watch
Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō and Taranaki – 12 hours from 8am to 8pm Sun 12 Apr.
Wairarapa and the Tararua District, also eastern and southern Wellington (excluding the Tararua Range) – 12 hours from 11am to 11pm Sun 12 Apr.
Northland north of Bay of Islands to Hokianga Harbour – 10 hours from 9pm Sat 11 Apr to 7am Sun 12 Apr.
Waikato – 17 hours from 1am to 6pm Sun 12 Apr.
Bay of Plenty about and east of Whakatāne – 15 hours from 6am to 9pm Sun 12 Apr.
Gisborne/Tairāwhiti south of Tolaga Bay, and coastal hills and ranges of Hawke’s Bay (excluding the Kāweka and Ruahine Ranges) – 16 hours from 2am to 6pm Sun 12 Apr.
Strong Wind Watch
Taranaki and Whanganui – 5 hours from 6pm to 11pm Sun 12 Apr.
Manawatū, Kāpiti Coast and Wellington – 20 hours from 10am Sun 12 Apr to 6am Mon 13 Apr.
Wairarapa (excluding the Tararua District) – 11 hours from 10pm Sun 12 Apr to 9am Mon 13 Apr.
Chatham Islands – 12 hours from 9pm Sun 12 Apr to 9am Mon 13 Apr.
Wairarapa coast (Cape Palliser Lighthouse to Mataikona) – 7 hours from 4pm to 11pm Sun 12 Apr.
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