New Zealand’s North Island braces for Cyclone Vaianu with thousands ordered to evacuate

Thousands of New Zealanders were ordered to evacuate their homes on Saturday as the country’s North Island braced for Cyclone Vaianu, which authorities warned could cause coastal flooding and landslides.Vaianu, forecast to bring heavy rain and winds of up to 130 km/h (80 mp/h), was expected to hit on Sunday, then pass west of the remote Chatham Islands on Monday, the country’s weather forecaster said.Several regions were under emergency declarations on Saturday, with authorities ordering evacuations in some parts of Whakatāne, population 37,150, about 430km (270 miles) north of national capital Wellington.“Residents should plan to be away for at least two days,” the Whakatāne district council posted on Facebook. On coastal areas, the storm could cause landslides, storm surges, waves of up to 13m and coastal flooding, it said.The prime minister, Christopher Luxon, said on Friday the cyclone had the potential to be damaging and urged those in its path to prepare for impact.“Make sure drains are free, check in on the neighbours, and be prepared for possible power cuts,” Luxon said on X.Vaianu has conjured up the painful memory of 2023’s Cyclone Gabrielle, which killed 11 and displaced thousands in New Zealand’s biggest natural disaster this century.