Cyclone Vaianu: Northland communities braced, anxiety in storm-hit towns
MetService is warning New Zealanders to start preparing for Cyclone Vaianu's arrival on Sunday. Photo / MetService
Storm-weary Northlanders are preparing to batten down the hatches as Cyclone Vaianu makes its presence known from tonight.
Far North District Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin has spent the last three weeks visiting communities across the district impacted by last month’s weather bomb.
She said many were feeling “tired and anxious”.
“Yesterday, we were out in Whirinaki, Waimamaku, and there were lots of tears, there were lots of really scared people.”
But Rudkin had also observed the communities’ resilience.
“ ... How there are some strong leaders in our communities that ... have so much strength to awhi and lift others up, who are struggling.”
One woman who didn’t have access to her own home was helping run a recovery hub for people in Panguru, Rudkin said.
“Her own whānau are at risk, but she’s chosen to do that mahi.”
Many were still struggling with the basics as well, with septic sewerage systems collapsing for some.
One father of five was facing a possible toe amputation because of a cut infection after he tried to get clothing for his children from his contaminated home in last month’s flood.
“It’s just so heartbreaking, so devastating.”
While coastal community Ōmāpere managed to escape relatively unscathed last month, lead for Te Whakarongotai Marae manaaki hub, Maria Barnes, said they’ve been helping serve nearby communities too.
“It’s really being able to manaaki. We call ourselves a manaaki hub, to provide shelter, kai, kōrero.”
If a whānau were to turn up on their doorstep having lost their home, the hub would get them warm and fed first.
“Some will come with bedding, some come with nothing. We do have supplies there if they do end up coming with nothing.”
Some people wanted to process and talk about what had happened to them, while others wanted to rest, she said.
The community was on the back foot going into Cyclone Vaianu.
“It’s not ideal to have it approaching so soon,” she said.
But residents appeared to be taking warnings seriously, with such actions as pre-emptively moving out of flood-prone areas.
“You’ve got 15, 20 minutes and it’s under and gone, so those observations from previous times are guiding a lot of that now that people know ‘Hey, we need to move’.”
Barnes described the past few weeks as “traumatic” for some, with several whānau still displaced.
The manaaki hub had supported some people displaced on March 26 from Whirinaki, which lies 20 minutes southeast of Ōmāpere.
Whirinaki Trust recovery lead Ruth Tautari helped co-ordinate evacuations in March and was mobilising now for this weekend.
People in Whirinaki were anxious, she said.
Three whānau were in temporary accommodation after March 26, when the small community found itself inundated with water as a river burst its banks.
Another three were living with whānau outside Whirinaki after being displaced.
In preparation for today, Tautari said they had tried to clear up choke points within the river to prevent any damming and flooding.
A rare region-wide state of emergency was declared in Northland yesterday a 5pm and will last for seven days.
Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) group controller Damian Rio said the move was a precaution given the potentially significant impacts Cyclone Vaianu may have across Tai Tokerau.
“It gives us the tools to respond effectively and keep our communities safe if the situation escalates.”
Bands of heavy rain and strengthening winds are forecast to arrive in Northland tonight.
The region is under an orange strong wind warning from 11pm until 2pm tomorrow.
Areas south of the Bay of Islands and the Hokianga Harbour are under an orange heavy rain warning from 9pm tomorrow until 9am Sunday.
A heavy rain watch is in place for areas north of those locations, from 7pm until 7am tomorrow.
Rudkin said Far North District Council was closely monitoring Cyclone Vaianu’s system.
Their main concern was the strong winds and the possibility of power outages.
She urged people to call0800 920 029 so FNDC could keep connected and know where problem areas were.
She reminded people they were not alone.
In the south, Whangārei District Council chief executive Simon Weston said it was “all hands to the pump” to ensure the district didn’t get hit too hard.
He was concerned about coastal erosion, power outages and further damage to existing slips.
Cyclone Vaianu added to the list of ongoing recovery from not just January or March, but Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.
“The damage can take years to recover from,” he said.
Weston admired the community’s resilience.
“But even so, you get jaded when you get event after event. So [I] fully appreciate that.”
Although the Kaipara District had avoided major impacts in March, Mayor Jonathan Larsen said they were preparing too.
“We’ve just got to wait and see what happens with this event, but the key for us is preparation.”
Contractors were ensuring infrastructure was ready to go, such as checking critical floodgates, ensuring extra storage capacity for water, and preparing for outages.
The council was in close contact with Civil Defence and would mobilise further if needed, he said.
Northland Civil Defence Group chairman Colin Kitchen urged people to be prepared and have an escape plan.
“I’ve been involved with emergency services for over 50 years now, and once again, we have an adverse weather event coming upon us.
“If you have to evacuate, get out, and stay out.”
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said it would be monitoring State Highway 1 at Mangamuka and Brynderwyn Hills closely and that proactive closures were possible, depending on weather conditions.
Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.