The east of the North Island is feeling the tail end of tropical Cyclone Pam following its devastating destruction on the island nation of Vanuatu on the weekend; there have been eight reported deaths and 44 thought to be dead.
However, as Pam approaches Aotearoa, Northland appears to have escaped the aftermath of Cyclone Pam largely unscathed.
Now moving to the south of the north island, areas in the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay are preparing for the worst. All schools in the Gisborne region have been closed this morning as they brace themselves.
Gisborne Civil Defence Emergency Management controller Peter Higgs said “We are still expecting winds of between 120 to 130 km an hour and 130 to 150 km an hour north of Tolaga Bay and up to 200mm of rainfall is expected in the next 12 hours with higher falls in the ranges."