Reports coming through of it being possible to get from Auckland to Warkworth then Whangarei, but Dome is closed. Use SH1, SH16, then Waipu detour.CLOSED Matakana Valley Road – slips, down to one lane, be very careful. Large vehicles won’t make it.Pakiri Hill Road – blocked and not passable use Matakana Valley Road.SH1 DOME Valley is closed. Due to slips & fallen trees SH1 is closed through the Dome Valley, between Kaipara Flats Rd and Wayby Valley Rd, and likely to remain closed all day today (Wed 15 Feb). USE SH16.SH16 under caution. Take extra care, drive with caution as there are patches where the road is narrowed with slips and trees but still passable. Possible to get from Auckland to Whangarei using SH16, SH1, Waipu detour.SH1 closed at Brynderwyns, take alternative Waipu route.SH12 is closed between Omapere and Dargaville .. and also near Baylys RdSH16 closed at Kaukapakapa CAUTIONTakatu Road in Tawharanui has road damage where big cracks have formed. Down to one lane in places.If you have further updates please email us [email protected]

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says it has been "a very big night for New Zealanders", particularly in the upper North Island.Hipkins gave an update hours after the government declared a national state of emergency over Cyclone Gabrielle.It is only the third time in New Zealand's history an event has met the national state of emergency criteria, following the Christchurch earthquake in 2011 and Covid-19.Limited communications"A lot of families displaced, a lot of homes without power, extensive damage done across the country."Overnight it's difficult in the dark to find out exactly what's happening. At first light this morning as soon as the extent of the disruption and the damage became clear, advice was provided to the minister and therefore through the minister to me that a state of national emergency should be declared and we acted on that immediately."He says government will be working as quickly as possible with agencies and telecommunications companies to restore communication.Hipkins also thanks first responders and says the volunteer response across the country has been phenomenal."I had the opportunity to speak just before with some of the families from Muriwai who were evacuated in the middle of the night, they were indicating they had felt incredibly well supported."We'll continue to work with those community groups to make sure that we're providing them with as much support as we can so that they can provide support to the communities that have been affected."Hipkins says one of the challenges with Gisborne at the moment is limited communications."That has proven to be very difficult in the last few hours."There will be an opportunity for the government to have a good look at the situation with the slash, he says.Hipkins says he hopes to get back to Wellington today, and has had a briefing from the team at National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).The defence force is on the ground, providing logistical support, helping with evacuations, and moving supplies. They will help with the clean-up as appropriate "when we get to that point", he says."This extreme weather event ... probably the biggest we have seen in recent times comes hot on the heels of other extreme weather events that we have seen."It is a particularly tiring time, a particularly stressful time, so I want to again on behalf of all New Zealanders reiterate out thanks to all those who are working around the clock for those who need that extra support."Natural and Built Environments billHipkins says the Natural and Built Environments bill before Parliament - the main replacement legislation for the RMA - will have an effect on where houses are built."That will place a much greater emphasis on natural hazards when it comes to things like deciding where we build. That is something where I think we've got a long history of perhaps poor past decisions in New Zealand that we're confronting right now. It's not that helpful for people who are up to their waists in water to be having that debate right now but it is one we need to have as a country.""All of the other things as a country we've dealt with over the last few years ... the last decade and a half or so we've had everything from earthquakes, natural disasters, volcanic eruptions, weather events. It is a lot, and for some people those things accumulate and the mental health impact could be a significant one."We're very aware of that as a government and we'll be making sure we provide as much mental health support as we can."Families in financial distressHipkins says a lot of families are already in financial distress."It'll take us a few days to really get a handle on how many families have been affected by these extra events over the last few days when it comes to the extreme weather. That will include working with insurance companies and relevant community agencies to support the most vulnerable," he says."We'll make sure we're getting energy to where it's most needed, most urgently."Hipkins says he had a pre-arranged call with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this morning and the first thing they spoke of was the cyclone, and the UK's support to the people of New Zealand.Hipkins says the recovery effort will be front and centre for the government's programme over the next weeks and months."We know that this won't be an overnight recovery, it's going to take a while, some people will be displaced from their homes for an extended period ... businesses will continue to feel the tail of this for some time and we'll need to support them through that as well."He says having spoken to some of the evacuees at the Trusts Stadium where the briefing is being held, many were feeling supported but did not get much sleep last night."They're feeling very well cared for but of course they're displaced... I think people generally accept that this is an extreme weather event.""Like it or not you can have the best technology in the world but until the sun comes up and you can actually see what's going on, there's a limited amount that you can actually do and know overnight."He says the winds are very strong and that will probably be limiting the amount of support that can be provided by air.The defence force is providing support by land and by sea, he says.Parliament's business committee will be deciding in a meeting about lunchtime how the event affects Parliament's sitting schedule.On Princess Anne's visit to New Zealand, Hipkins says he welcomes her despite the extreme weather. He had been planning to meet with her but those plans may be affected, he says.'I would ask all businesses to be responsible'Hipkins asks all employers to be responsible in what they are asking of staff."There are some essential businesses that will be asking their staff to come back to work including so that they can keep essential supply lines open, food for example - people need to continue to be able to buy food - so those decisions are best made by businesses but I would ask all businesses to be responsible."Follow the latest with live updates in RNZ's live blog.Read more:Cyclone Gabrielle: What the national state of emergency meansCyclone Gabrielle: Flooding and land slips isolate some Auckland regionsFirefighters trapped, injured in Auckland's Muriwai house collapseBy the numbers: Cyclone Gabrielle's impactCyclone Gabrielle: Who to call, what to do if the roof comes off or windows smashNational state of emergency: What you need to knowThe New Zealand government has declared a National State of Emergency, to assist in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle.The declaration will apply to the six regions that have already declared a local State of Emergency: Northland, Auckland, Tairāwhiti, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and Hawke's Bay.A national state of emergency gives the national controller legal authority to apply further resources across the country and set priorities in support of a national level response.National Emergency Management Agency advice:Put safety first. Don't take any chances. Act quickly if you see rising water. Floods and flash floods can happen quickly. If you see rising water do not wait for official warnings. Head for higher ground and stay away from floodwater.Stay at home if it is safe to do so. But have an evacuation plan in case your home becomes unsafe to stay in.If you have evacuated, please stay where you are until you are given the all-clear to go home.People should stay up to date with the forecasts from MetService and continue to follow the advice of Civil Defence and emergency services.Do not try to walk, play, swim, or drive in floodwater: even water just 15 centimetres deep can sweep you off your feet, and half a metre of water will carry away most vehicles. Flood water is often contaminated and can make you sick.

SORRY FOR THE DELAYS FOLKS WE HAVE HAD NO POWER LIKE MANY OUT THERE. STAY SAFE AND HOME IF YOU CAN.CLOSEDDOME Valley - Due to slips & fallen trees is closed through the Dome Valley. Delay your journey.PUHOI - SH 1 Puhoi Off-ramp Southbound - Due to a fallen tree the SH1 off-ramp to Hibiscus Coast Hwy (Toll free route) is closed. Use alternative exit to Orewa after tunnels.PAKIRI Hill is closed due to slipsAHURORA ROAD - near PuhoiMATAKANA ROAD - Between Sharp road and Anderson roadLEIGH ROAD to Oak River Drive and to Omaha Flats Road.MATAKANA VALLEY ROAD - massive slips.TE ARAI - Waiteitei RoadSH16 near GLORIT and Kaipara Hills Road intersection - massive slips covering the entire road. Not passable.BRYNDERWYNSMANGAWHAI - Molesworth DriveMANGAWHAI ROAD - near Cames road is blocked, not passable.CAUTIONSH 1 Auckland Harbour Bridge - Due to severe wind gusts reduced speed limits and lane reductions are in place. A temporary full closure may be required if winds gust over 90km/h. Take extra care. High-sided vehicles and motorcyclists should consider delaying their journey or detour via SH18/SH16.MAHURANGI WEST - Due to a slip between Mahurangi West Rd and Schollum Access Rd, SH1 is open under stop/go traffic management. Expect delays.SH1 Warkworth to Wellsford - Due to a rockfall north of Waiwhiu Rd, southbound lanes are partially blocked. Delay your journey if possible and take care.TE HANA - Due to reports of flooding, caution is advised in this area.MANGAWHAI ROAD - SH 1 Just south of Mangawhai Road, Wellsford - Due to slips in this area caution is advised. There may be road closures. Expect delays.WELLSFORD - Fallen tree/s across highway on Point Albert Road near Wellsford - Due to reports of a fallen tree, caution is advised in this area.SH16 SH 16 Kaukapakapa to Wellsford - Due to a fallen tree and powerlines down just north of West Coast Rd, stop/go traffic management is in place. Drive with caution through the area and delay your journey if possible.More updates to come

CLOSED ROADSTOPUNI - SH1 heading North before Topuni tree down across the highway.MANGAWHAI - Mangawhai Road, near Cemetery Road a tree has fallen across the road with no access. Detour around Coal Hill road or Te Arai.MANGAWHAI - Another tree down over half the road on Mangawhai Rd about 1km of Vipond Rd MANGAWHAI - Garbolino Road near Tara end there is a tree down.MANGAWHAI - Tomarata Road / Coal Hill Road is closed, extends to Cames Road.MANGAWHAI - Cove Road -down to one lane due to a fallen treeKAIWAKA - no access to property beyond 1180 Oneriri Road due to a fallen treeKAIPARA - Road closures due to fallen tree - ❌Cassidy Road, ❌Marlborough RoadKAIPARA - There are also fallen trees/flooding reported at Black Swamp Road, Tinopai Road and Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Road, Montgomery Ave.HAKARU - tree and power lines down across Settlement Road, no access.RUAWAI - Access Road closed due to a fallen treeBRYNDERWYNS will be closed from 6pm today (Sunday)SH16 is closed.LEIGH - Power lines down on Frost Rd and Wharf Rd. Vector notified. Roads closed till further notice.WHANGARIPO ROAD/WELLSFORD - has been closed from Rusty Brook Rd to the other end of the dips, as there is power lines and trees down.CAUTIONPort Albert Rd just by Underwood road. Down to one lane.Southbound in the Dome before the hill leading to the speed camera is a slip with large rocks blocking the road. (You can get past on northbound lane).Be careful going down Pakiri road about 1km before goat island turn off. Tree fallen and trunk sticking out on road. Hard to see coming around the corner. Go slow.KAIPARA - Road down to one lane due to fallen tree - ⭕️Batley Road, ⭕️Access Road, ⭕️Pahi RoadMATAKANA - Slip at the bottom of Matakana Hill going to Pakiri. Down to one lane.OPENHarbour Bridge is now open but lanes are restrictedLeigh Road new Tram Car bay is now open, tree removed.

Damage to Snells beach and the promenade from yesterday and high tide today.

Free phone charging on Mahu City Express!Mahu City Express have announced they are offering to charge phones, laptops etc for free!They will be putting one of their eCoaches up by The Warehouse in Snells Beach - they have heeeeaps of power in our batteries, so anyone that needs to charge phones, laptops etc come aboard and have a free recharge Bring your own cables - they have the standard USB ports onboard, plus several household plug outlets.Thank you MCE!

Auckland is almost at a standstill as it braces for the worst from Cyclone Gabrielle.Commuter trains in the city have been cancelled until at least 3pm, the harbour bridge has reopened but with lane and speed restrictions, and most schools in the region have shut their doors.Delays are also expected for bus services depending on the impact of the cyclone and ferry services are likely to be cancelled as conditions worsen.Air travel is also impacted as Air New Zealand has cancelled all domestic flights from or through Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Taupō, until at least midday on Tuesday.And non-essential services in Auckland, including libraries, community centres, early childhood education centres, and active recreation centres are all shut.Meanwhile, power outages have been widespread overnight and thousands are without power across Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula.Twenty-six emergency shelters and civil defence centres are now open across Auckland.MetService and Niwa are warning the worst is likely yet to come as Cyclone Gabrielle moves down the country, with significant wind and rain expected across Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, the East Coast including Tairāwhiti, and Hawke's Bay.What you need to know:Northland, Auckland and Coromandel are in a state of emergency due to the threat posed by Cyclone Gabrielle.Thousands of people are without power across Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula.Commuter trains in Auckland have been cancelled until at least 3pm.Air New Zealand has cancelled all domestic flights from or through Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Taupo, until at least midday Tuesday.Some international flights are also either cancelled, or diverted to another NZ airport.Most schools in the region have closed and all non-essential services in the city, including libraries, community centres, early childhood education centres, and active recreation centres are all shut.The cyclone has been downgraded to a sub-tropical low pressure system from a Category 2 cyclone.Heavy rain in the north and east is expected to spread southwards to the rest of the upper and central North Island this afternoon.East to southeasterlies gales will be severe in many places, turning southwesterly over Northland this afternoon.Impacts of Gabrielle are expected to spread through to northern parts of the South Island today and Tuesday.MetService and Niwa are warning the worst is likely yet to come as Cyclone Gabrielle moves down the country.Twenty-six emergency shelters and civil defence centres are now open across Auckland.UPDATED FEB 13, 2023 6:40 AM

Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland@WakaKotahiAkNthUPDATE 6:15AMThe Auckland Harbour Bridge is OPEN in both directions with lane reductions and speed restrictions. High-sided vehicles & motorcycles should still consider using SH18/SH16 with strong wind gusts ongoing. Drive safety - We'll update all local roads as soon as possibe·

Emergency alertSun, Feb 12, 16:32pmIssued by Northland Civil Defence at 4:30pm, 12 Feb, 2023.A state of emergency has been declared for Northland as of 4.40pm, for an initial seven-day period. This is a precautionary as a part our response to Cyclone Gabrielle. This is to allow the Civil Defence Controller and other authorities involved in the response to access emergency powers to protect life and property. Overnight tonight and tomorrow are the key times of concern with the possibility of widespread heavy rainfall and gale force winds causing issues across Northland.Please continue to stay up-to-date with weather forecasts and official information, have a plan in case you need to evacuate, check on neighbours, avoid non-essential travel and take extreme care if you do need to be on the roads.More info is on the Civil Defence Northland Facebook page and the Civil Defence pages of www.nrc.govt.nzIf life is in danger call 111 immediately.

Gabrielle is now within 500km of Cape Reinga. Gabrielle’s speed has begun to slow down, and will take the next 36 hours to track south down the east coast of Northland before finally turning to the east and moving away. This means the heavy rain and strong winds are set to persist until Tuesday. The strongest wind gust recorded so far is 140km/h at Cape Reinga, and some parts of Northland have already seen over 120mm of rain in the past 24 hours.

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown says the city is well-prepared and taking the threat of Cyclone Gabrielle seriously, as officials provide an update on what the country can expect in coming days.Auckland Emergency Management gave its latest state of emergency update as Cyclone Gabrielle makes landfall in New Zealand.Brown said it would be a challenging time, but Auckland was well-prepared and taking it seriously."This time, we've got a lot more warning and we are better-prepared [than the flooding in late January]."He said the build-up to the cyclone had been "intense"."I'm well aware of the remote rural areas. I've ensured that they've been included in all of the planning, not just an urban-based plan."He said emergency services were on high alert, and asked for people to check on neighbours, whānau, friends to make sure they were okay."Aucklanders are strong and resilient and we will get through this. Stay safe. Kia kaha."Deputy mayor Desley Simpson urged people to reach out if they needed help."You've still got time, Auckland. Please prepare. There will be destruction from this cyclone."Fire and Emergency spokesperson Vaughan Mackereth said they were bringing in specialist crews, medics, engineers, search and rescue and more."People can be confident there are sufficient firefighters."He said there had been a small number of callouts in Northland today, including a tree fallen on a house, and several coming down on powerlines."Take action at home if you haven't already. Tie down all loose items in your backyard. Bring them inside."Once the storm hits, stay off the roads if you can. That reduces your risk, don't drive or ride through floodwater. It's hard to judge the depth or see hidden objects."Auckland Transport safety executive general manager Stacey van der Putten said people should keep off the road as much as possible."If you need to travel, take the time to plan your journey with the most up to date information available."She warned of possible changes and cancellations in the public transport network and that while the goal was to keep public transport operating, "we do need to take a risk-based approach" based on safety.Auckland Emergency Management duty controller Rachel Kelleher confirmed that Monday and Tuesday rubbish collections would not happen and the next collection would not be until the next collection date.She said several programmes of work - such as the flood-affected property from kerbsides - had been stopped, and would resume once the impact of Gabrielle was known.She said this would be a "severe and potentially devastating weather event", and urged people to take advice seriously."I want to assure you that supermarkets will continue to remain open. They're well-stocked."She said individual supermarkets might shut if they were affected.Kelleher said anybody going to a shelter could take pets such as "contained cats" and dogs on leashes with them.She said Aucklanders should check AEM.org.nz and Facebook for up-to-date information and the locations of shelters.Northland is already experiencing Cyclone Gabrielle's impacts, with nearly 1500 homes losing power.Some parts of Auckland have also lost power.

Road closures and updatesStrong wind warnings on Auckland Harbour Bridge - reduced lanes and 30kmph speed limitOneriri Road, Kaiwaka - no access to property beyond 1180 Oneriri Road due to a fallen treeAccess Road, Ruawai - closed due to a fallen treeCove Road, Mangawhai -down to one lane due to a fallen treeCurrent power outages in parts ofTawharanui PeninsulaBig OmahaMatakanaLeighWellsfordOrewaWainuiPuhoiWarkworthHakaruOneririTo report an electricity fault in Rodney District please phone 0508 83 28 67To report an electricity fault in Kaipara or Whangarei Districts please phone 0800 10 40 40.With more power outages and road conditions worsening as the weather increases, please avoid travel if possible and remember all power lines and connections should be treated as live at all times.

Yesterday afternoon A Defence Force Bomb disposal squad blew up a suspicious item on Orewa Beach.The item was discovered on Orewa Beach at 2pm by a member of the public and notified police.Police confirmed that a section of the beach was cordoned off on Saturday afternoon while the Defence Force bomb squad set up a cordon and disposed of the item.

Severe weather warnings are in place for most of the North Island, with Cyclone Gabrielle due to arrive in the region on Sunday.Winds have cut power, brought down trees and blocked roads on Norfolk Island, halfway between New Zealand and Australia, but it appears to have been spared the worst.It's been downgraded to a Category 2 system, but forecasters warn it could still bring destructive winds and heavy rain. One resident said most of the properties on the island are not built to withstand severe cyclones.Orange-level strong wind warnings are in place across the upper North Island, from Northland through to Hawke's Bay.Air New Zealand has cancelled several flights.Auckland and CoromandelRain has been falling overnight in Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. The wettest part of the country currently is Waitakere, West Auckland.The rain is forecast to get heavier, with severe gales also likely.MetService says the amount of rain forecast for Coromandel Peninsula and northern Gisborne is expected to cause dangerous river conditions and significant flooding.Coromandel is under a red-level heavy rain warning, with up to 400mm expected on the ranges, and up to 250mm elsewhere. Monday afternoon/evening is expected to be the peak, and "cause dangerous river conditions and significant flooding", as well as slips.Auckland and Great Barrier Island are under an orange heavy rain warning, with up to 250mm north of Whangaparapa and 200m south."There remains some uncertainty associated with the exact track of Cyclone Gabrielle. Changes may be made in following updates, and this may be upgraded to a red warning."Auckland Transport is urging travellers to be extremely cautious. Executive general manager of safety, Stacey van der Putten, says although the worst weather is expected from Monday, Auckland is already feeling the cyclone's impacts.She warns the Harbour Bridge may face closures or restrictions on short notice, and travellers should keep an alternative route in mind.Van der Putten is also encouraging Aucklanders to reconsider travelling on Monday and Tuesday.The New Zealand Defence Force is expecting to be called out for evacuations.Lieutenant Colonel Steve Fisher has been working with Auckland Emergency Management to prepare for evacuations around the North Island. He said roughly 100 Defence Force personnel are preparing for the cyclone response in Auckland, with more positioned outside the city."I think based on the last weather events we've seen, evacuations are likely. But the issue here is that the cyclone is largely unpredictable, so we need to be ready to move assets around the North Island based on where the greatest need is."An Auckland firefighter was frustrated by the dire lack of staff as the region faced yet another major weather event.Firefighters' union Auckland Secretary Martin Campbell said his station will have even fewer staff than they had during the floods two weeks ago, and the lack of firefighters will leave Aucklanders vulnerable."It's the worst-case scenario - we're here to protect the public, we're here to do a job. We are being prevented from being able to do that… it frustrates us immensely because we know the organisation can and should be being doing so much better."Maritime New Zealand is warning boaties to stay out of the water when Cyclone Gabrielle hits the country.Spokesperson Michael-Paul Abbott said heavy rain can cause flooding which hides potential risks, and kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders should not be in the water.He says bulk carriers, container ships, passenger ferries should have plans in place for such a weather event.NorthlandNorthland is under an orange heavy rain warning, with up to 250mm expected south of Kaeo, and 150mm elsewhere. Monday afternoon/evening will be the worst of it.The region had winds over 130km/h at 6am Sunday, MetService said.MetService said the orange warning could be upgraded to red as the cyclone arrives.An iwi in the far north says it's prepared to support its community when Cyclone Gabrielle hits.Chief executive of Te Runanganui o Te Aupouri, Mariameno Kapa-kingi, said their team has already done welfare checks for about 200 people in Te Kao ahead of the weather.Kapa-kingi said they're ready to help with the clearing of downed trees, and any other needs of the community during the weather event.A number of marae in Northland may be available as welfare centres when Cyclone Gabrielle hits the region.A health organisation based near Kaitaia, Whakawhiti Ora Pai, said it has been talking to marae in the area. General manager Errol Murray said several marae are prepared to step up if needed, and they have been doing welfare checks on vulnerable communities ahead of the cyclone."We just make do. Our team's already doing some welfare checks… seeing if they're prepared and make sure they don't need a reason to go out. We're also preparing food, kai and water."

Auckland Emergency Management If you think you'd need to seek refuge from #cyclonegabrielle, Civil Defence Centres and shelter sites will be opened when needed. It's best to find out now where your local one is at https://bit.ly/3lmhwSp Shelters: provide a place to be safe while the worst of the weather passes. Blankets and hot drinks will be available but shelters aren’t equipped for extended stays. Civil Defence Centres (CDCs): are equipped to provide you with a safe place to eat, sleep and access essential support services.SHELTERS / CIVIL DEFENCE CENTRES IN NTH RODNEY- Warkworth Town Hall- Wellsford Community Centre- Ahuroa HallSTH RODNEYWaimauku War Memorial Hall llAuckland Emergency Management It's time to get Cyclone Ready, Auckland! If you think you'd need to seek refuge from #cyclonegabrielle, Civil Defence Centres and shelter sites will be opened when needed. It's best to find out now where your local one is at https://bit.ly/3lmhwSp Shelters: provide a place to be safe while the worst of the weather passes. Blankets and hot drinks will be available but shelters aren’t equipped for extended stays. Civil Defence Centres (CDCs): are equipped to provide you with a safe place to eat, sleep and access essential support services.

Heavy rain from Cyclone Gabrielle is likely to arrive in Northland slightly earlier than expected, while the Auckland Harbour Bridge is already under a wind warning.An orange warning is in place for severe wind and heavy rain for several areas including Northland, Auckland north of Whangaparaoa and Great Barrier Island.MetService says regardless of the storm's eventual track, there is a very high risk of extreme and impactful weather over the upper North Island late Saturday night, spreading to south and central New Zealand by Monday.North of New Zealand, Norfolk Island has declared a red alert and residents have been urged to take shelter as Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle continues to track straight towards the island.The Bureau of Meteorology says gale-force winds could impact the island through Saturday night and into Sunday.Emergency Management Norfolk Island (EMNI) moved the island to a red alert Saturday afternoon, meaning people should stay inside until further notice.Strong winds are already being felt in the north, with Waka Kotahi issuing a strong winds warning late this afternoon for the Auckland Harbour bridge."Please take extra care especially if you are in a lighter or high-sided vehicle or riding a motorcycle."A red warning for heavy rain was issued today for the Coromandel Peninsula and Tairawhiti Gisborne north of Tolaga Bay.MetService says it expects up to 400 millimetres of rain to fall in the regions, mostly on Monday.The storm is due to track across Northland before moving south to Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne on Monday and Tuesday.Forecasters are warning of strong wind, heavy rain and big seas.MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said the cyclone would bring widespread severe weather.The cyclone had taken a more eastern track over the last few days, but there was still disagreement over where the central point will lie when it made landfall, Ferris said."It's still looking like Monday-Tuesday are going to be the biggest days for the weather with the approaching cyclone. The worst impacts, where they are and when they occur, are still going to be riding on where the track of the cyclone actually eventuates."The storm is due to track across Northland on Sunday before moving south to Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne on Monday and Tuesday. It is possible that even Wellington could see some impacts, MetService said.It has been upgraded to category 3.MetService has issued heavy rain and strong wind watches ahead of its arrival.Civil Defence Controller for the Coromandel Garry Towler says as well as heavy rain, winds of up to 130 kilometers an hour are expected and after weeks of severe weather, civil defence officials are very worried.He said the Coromandel was in a fragile state and Civil Defence was deploying as many resources onto the Coromandel as they could.He said a mobile alert will be issued this afternoon, and warnings will go out to people in vulnerable areas.Travel warnings issuedMeanwhile, the government is urging people to avoid non-essential travel in areas that could be hit by Cyclone Gabrielle.Air New Zealand has cancelled several flights.Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty said safety trumped the disappointment of scrapping weekend plans."We would urge people, despite the inconvenience this would naturally cause, to heed that advice, because it is not given lightly. We are taking this very seriously. Depending on how this tracks it could be quite severe and we're just asking people to take it seriously."McAnulty said he had assurances government agencies and local civil defence services would update their social media channels regularly.People were also being urged to stock three days' worth of food and water and prepare for possible power outages.Supermarkets have urged shoppers to be patient as people stocked up on essential supplies.St John Ambulance said it was scaling up in preparation for Cyclone Gabrielle.Spokesperson Dan Ohs said St John had increased deployments in Northland, Coromandel, Auckland, and Bay of Plenty.There would be extra ambulances and four wheel drives on the ground, he said."For us it looks like additional ambulances where that's relevant and in particular, four-wheel-drives. We're also in discussion with Wellington Free (Ambulance). Wellington Free have a rescue unit capability and four-wheel-drive resources."Parents in Auckland are likely to receive communication from their children's school this weekend about Cyclone Gabrielle.Yesterday, the Ministry of Education advised Auckland schools that they must decide individually whether to stay open or close in response to the storm. The decision would be based on schools' assessment of health and safety risk of their situation.

Police are yet to find three remand prisoners on the run after escaping from a prison van on Auckland's Southern Motorway.The prisoners got out near the Ellerslie-Panmure off-ramp yesterday afternoon while their van was heading to Mt Eden prison and then stole a member of the public's car.Police are now appealing to the public for help to find the trio - Zane Hepi, 24, Billy Fepulea'i, 43, and Joseph Ng Wun, 45.A "dedicated" team of officers was working on the search, police said."The men have connections across Counties Manukau and Auckland City."The men are considered dangerous and should not be approached - however, if you see them police urge you to call 111 immediately."Information can also be given anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.The Department of Corrections has launched a review into how the prisoners escaped.

It is still not clear which regions will be worst hit by Cyclone Gabrielle as it approaches New Zealand, weather forecasters say.The storm is due to track across Northland on Sunday before moving south to Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne on Monday and Tuesday.Forecasters are warning of strong wind, heavy rain and big seas.MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said the cyclone would bring widespread severe weather.The cyclone had taken a more eastern track over the last few days, but there was still disagreement over where the central point will lie when it made landfall, Ferris said."It's still looking like Monday-Tuesday are going to be the biggest days for the weather with the approaching cyclone. The worst impacts, where they are and when they occur, are still going to be riding on where the track of the cyclone actually eventuates."The storm is due to track across Northland on Sunday before moving south to Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne on Monday and Tuesday. It is possible that even Wellington could see some impacts, MetService said.It has been upgraded to category 3.MetService has issued heavy rain and strong wind watches ahead of its arrival.Meanwhile, the government is urging people to avoid non-essential travel in areas that could be hit by Cyclone Gabrielle.Air New Zealand is offering flight deferrals in affected areas, asking people to postpone air travel unless it was urgent.Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty said safety trumped the disappointment of scrapping weekend plans."We would urge people, despite the inconvenience this would naturally cause, to heed that advice, because it is not given lightly. We are taking this very seriously. Depending on how this tracks it could be quite severe and we're just asking people to take it seriously."McAnulty said he had assurances government agencies and local civil defence services would update their social media channels regularly.People are also being urged to stock three days' worth of food and water and prepare for possible power outages.Supermarkets have urged shoppers to be patient as people stock up on essential supplies.St John Ambulance said it was scaling up in preparation for Cyclone Gabrielle.Spokesperson Dan Ohs said St John had increased deployments in Northland, Coromandel, Auckland, and Bay of Plenty.There would be extra ambulances and four wheel drives on the ground, he said."For us it looks like additional ambulances where that's relevant and in particular, four-wheel-drives. We're also in discussion with Wellington Free (Ambulance). Wellington Free have a rescue unit capability and four-wheel-drive resources."Parents in Auckland are likely to receive communication from their children's school this weekend about Cyclone Gabrielle.Yesterday, the Ministry of Education advised Auckland schools that they must decide individually whether to stay open or close in response to the storm.The decision would be based on schools' assessment of health and safety risk of their situation.A statement from the ministry said schools did not have to wait for direction from the secretary for education.However, the secretary did have power to close services based on information from emergency services.Auckland Secondary Principals Association President Greg Pierce said Covid-19 and the recent floods had prepared to schools to act quickly.Schools would keep families regularly updated on the storm, Pierce said.In Northland a number of maraes may be available as welfare centres when Cyclone Gabrielle hits the region.A health organisation based near Kaitaia, Whakawhiti Ora Pai, said it had been talking to maraes in the area.General manager Errol Murray said several marae are prepared to step in if needed, including Potahi Marae in Te Kao, Waiora Marae in Ngataki.Murray said the had also been doing welfare checks on vulnerable communities ahead of the cyclone, as well as preparing food packs and water.And an iwi in the far north said community support networks developed during the Covid-19 pandemic had made it more resilient to face sudden weather events.Te Runanganui o Te Aupouri chief executive Mariameno Kapa-kingi said they had already started doing welfare checks and stocked up on supplies and water ahead of the cyclone."We did a lot of this work ... communities (in Northland) are still very Covid-aware, right, so a lot of the work we did then is actually carried forward into capacity that we have today to deal with this."

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