Auckland has stood up its emergency centre as the North Island braces for the impact of Cyclone Vaianu.

Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) has activated its Emergency Co-ordination Centre to an orange alert mode to co-ordinate support and manage any preparations.

It comes as crisis meetings are slated for North Island councils as weather models suggest Cyclone Vaianu will make landfall between Auckland and Coromandel when it reaches the top of the country on Sunday.

Close to 20 heavy rain and strong wind watches were issued this morning across the North Island from Saturday evening, in what MetService is labelling a “multi-hazard, potentially life-threatening event”.

AEM general manager Adam Maggs said it was “essential” to make a plan now and advised Aucklanders to start preparing their property.

“Our teams are activated and preparing to provide support ahead of Cyclone Vaianu arriving. This cyclone system poses a significant risk to Aotearoa New Zealand, including the Auckland region. It is essential that we all prepare now – preparation and making a plan saves lives.

“Aucklanders need to start preparing their property now. Check drains and gutters to ensure they aren’t blocked and clear tree branches, leaves and debris. These can cause flooding issues during heavy rain. Put away or tie down any loose outdoor furniture and trampolines in case of high winds.”

This afternoon, officials connected to Manawatū-Whanganui civil defence, councils, partner agencies and emergency services will be meeting to discuss how they prepare for the incoming storm.

Forecasters have warned that the combination of damaging winds and heavy rain will bring a risk of power outages, flooding, fallen trees, slips and road closures.

A top meteorologist said coastal regions in particular could be swamped by surges fuelled by monster waves and a drop in barometric pressure.

• Emergency grab bag: Essentials you need before Cyclone Vaianu hits
• Cyclone Vaianu to make landfall between Auckland, Coromandel on Sunday, nearly 20 alerts issued

Heavy rain, strong wind watches for Sunday 

A heavy rain watch remains in place for the Bay of Plenty and east of Whakatāne until 4pm today.

A further heavy rain watch has been issued in Northland for 12 hours from 9pm on Saturday to 9am on Sunday, and in Auckland from 2am to 2pm on Sunday.

The Coromandel Peninsula, the Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne (including Rotorua) and Waikato have rain warnings from early morning to around 4pm on Sunday.

Gisborne north and south of Tolaga Bay, Hawke’s Bay ranges and the coastal hills south of Napier are expected to experience 14 to 16 hours of rain from 2am to 6pm on Sunday.

While in Waitomo, Taumaranui, Taupō and Taranaki, the heavy rain warning is in place from 8am to 8pm on Sunday.

A strong wind watch is in place for western parts of the North Island from Coromandel to Wellington, as well as in Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, the Tararua District, Wairarapa, Northland, Auckland and Great Barrier Island from early morning Sunday through to late night and early Monday morning.

Some regions are likely to be upgraded to orange or even red warnings as the track of the cyclone becomes clearer, with heavy rain watches added closer to the time.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says Cyclone Vaianu is a potentially “damaging and significant event” for the country, with government agencies set to be “on full notice”.

Civil Defence has already advised Kiwis to make plans, as has Luxon, who said yesterday that people in the North Island should “stock up, get supplies and tie things down”.

Earth Sciences NZ principal scientist Chris Brandolino wouldn’t say whether he’d compare it to Cyclone Gabrielle or not, but it was “very concerning”.

“This is going to be a big event, there’s no doubt about it.

“We won’t see as much rain as Gabrielle, which is something that might save our bacon, as it’ll hit a lot faster.”

The projected track of Cyclone Vaianu at 9am on Sunday, expected to make landfall between Auckland and Coromandel. Image / Windy.com 

A MetService spokeswoman told the Herald that as of midnight last night, Vaianu was a Category 2 storm after a day at the stronger Category 3.

“It’s now in New Zealand waters and being classified as a Category 2 ... it’s about halfway between Fiji and us as we speak.”

Brandolino told Ryan Bridge TODAY that the cyclone was looking to track somewhere between Auckland and Coromandel.

“Most current information is for the centre of the cyclone to move somewhere between Auckland and Coromandel … that’s the indication right now.

“One of the bigger impacts in this cyclone is wind, it sort of loses its tropical characteristics as it hits us and becomes an ‘ex-tropical’ cyclone.”

Brandolino has warned people in the eastern Northland and northern part of Coromandel that the areas will “cop the worst” and that Sunday afternoon is looking to cause havoc for coastal communities.

“We’ll see wind gusts in excess of 100km/h, which comes over the water, with high tides on Sunday early afternoon the most problematic.”

Seabreeze Holiday Park on State Highway 25 between Coroglen and Hot Water Beach in Coromandel will be used as a safe harbour for stricken campers.

Waves up to 12m are expected to pound the east coast, with Brandolino expecting coastal erosion to be affected the most on Sunday afternoon.

He said somewhere between 100 and 200mm – a month’s worth – of rain will fall in some areas within a period of 18 to 24 hours.