Civil Defence Emergency Management

If you are self-evacuating from your property, please seek refuge with friends or whānau first where possible.

As Cyclone Vaianu tracks away from Tauranga, several emergency support locations are preparing to close, but several marae remain open on Sunday night.

Tauranga marae

• Hungahungatoroa Marae – 24 Hungahungatoroa Road, Matapihi, Mount Maunganui 3175 - CLOSED
• Huria Marae – 1 Te Kaponga Street, Huria, Tauranga 3110 (Parking along street)
• Mangatawa Marae - 46 Tareha Lane, Mangatawa, Tauranga 3175
• Wairoa Marae - Wairoa Pa Road, Bethlehem, Tauranga 3110

Important information:

• On arrival, please register with a marae volunteer onsite.
• Please avoid bringing pets. If this isn’t possible, domestic pets are the owner’s responsibility and must stay in vehicles.
• Bring your own blanket and pillow.
• Bring your grab bag containing personal items such as medication, a torch, chargers, and personal and sanitary supplies.
• Bring snacks and some food, particularly if you have allergies or require gluten or dairy‑free options.
• Please be respectful of the marae, marae volunteers, and others using the space.  

Other Evacuation Centres

• Mercury Baypark, 81 Truman Lane, Mount Maunganui – CLOSED
• Matua Bowling Club, 108 Levers Road – CLOSED
• The Atrium, 252 Otūmoetai Road, Otūmoetai - CLOSED

Adams Avenue, between Maunganui Road and The Mall is closed. Residents can still access their property although Adams Avenue will be closed to all other vehicles. This is a precautionary approach following geotechnical advice about the current risks on Mauao.

Fraser Street outside Fraser Cove is open again.

The following roads are currently open, but vulnerable to flooding and could close suddenly: 

• Tauranga Eastern Link Domain Road to Sandhurst Drive
• Chapel Street/ Maxwells Road
• Carmichael Road, Bethlehem (low point)
• Oropi Road Bridge
• Waihi Road at Birch Avenue
• Turret Road over the Hairini causeway
• Welcome Bay Road at James Cook Drive 

Based on the latest advice from MetService and Civil Defence, and with the safety of our community, staff, volunteers, and visitors as our top priority, all Tauranga City Council public-facing facilities will be closed on Sunday.

Affected facilities include:

• All Te Ao Mārama – Tauranga City Libraries
• Baycourt and the Cargo Shed
• The Historic Village
• Te Maunga transfer station

From Saturday afternoon until Monday morning, all council parks and reserves with lockable gates will be closed to the public. Gates, public toilets, and changing facilities within these parks will be locked during this time. Most public toilets and changing facilities outside these gated parks will remain open.

• Arataki Park 
• Beach Road Reserve 
• Cambridge Park 
• Carlton Street Reserve 
• Fergusson Park 
• Gate Pā Domain (Recreation) 
• Gordon Carmichael Reserve 
• Gordon Spratt Reserve 
• Greerton Park 
• Hewletts Road Reserve 
• Kopurererua Valley 
• Kulim Park 
• Links Avenue Reserve 
• Marine Park 
• Matua Saltmarsh 
• Mitchell Park 
• Oceanbeach Road Reserve 
• Omanu Beach Reserve 
• Opupu - Rotary Park 
• Otumoetai Railway Reserve 
• Pāpāmoa Beach Reserve 1 
• Pāpāmoa Domain 
• Pemberton Park 
• Rowesdale Drive Reserve 
• Selwyn Park 
• Tutarawananga - Yatton Park 
• Tye Park 
• Waipuna Park

We strongly advise against entering any council parks and reserves while Orange or Red MetService warnings remain active. High winds significantly increase the risk of falling branches or trees.

Our contractors are continually assessing the status of infrastructure, roads and parks, and we will update this list as we receive more information:

• Access to all council parks and reserves - due to the current severe weather forecast and the elevated risk to public safety, we strongly advise against entering any council parks and reserves while Orange or Red MetService warnings remain active. High winds significantly increase the risk of falling branches or trees.
• McLaren Falls Park - will be closed from Saturday 11 April in the afternoon
• Ōmanawa Falls – will be closed from Saturday 11 April in the afternoon
• Mauao (including Base and Summit Tracks) – closed
• Ōropi Grove Mountain Bike Park – closed
• Novella Place - Daisy Hardwick Waikareao West Walkway Track - closed
• Polytech walkbridge connecting Oropi Road across Greerton Park to Toi Ohomai Campus, Windermere Drive.
• College Place track - closed
• Puketoromiro Pā track - closed
• Kopurererua Valley (K Valley) - flood warnings in place
• Wairoa Bridge area – Cycle path closed. Slip undermining the SH2 shoulder between Wairoa Bridge and Carmichael Road (left side heading to Bethlehem). Take extra care around this area as the road shoulder is closed
• Ultimate Athlete - Beach Fitness Challenge (Saturday 11 April) - postponed, new date to be confirmed
• Pooch in the Pool - Memorial Pool (Saturday 11 April) - postponed to next Saturday 18 April.
• Bark in the Park - Memorial Park (Saturday 11 April) - cancelled
• All facilities operated by Bay Venues will be closed on Sunday 12 April. This includes Baywave, UoW Haumaru Sport & Recreation Centre, Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, Clubfit gyms, as well as all other aquatic facilities, indoor court venues, cafes, and community centres and halls.

• As Cyclone Vaianu tracks away from Tauranga, several emergency support locations are preparing to close:
  • Mercury Baypark – closing 5pm
  • Matua Bowling Club – closing 4pm
  • Hungahungatoroa Marae preparing to close for the day
• Any residents who are unable to return home should seek refuge with friends or whānau if possible. However Huria Marae, Wairoa Marae and Mangatawa Marae will remain open overnight.
• While the worst of the weather seems to have passed, Metservice warnings remain in place for Tauranga. A Red Strong Wind Warning is in place until 9pm tonight, and a Red Heavy Rain Warning applies until 5pm.
• Road closure: Fraser Street near Fraser Cove is open again.
• TCC’s Emergency Operations Centre remains active tonight and ready to respond if needed.
• If you spot surface flooding, blocked/damaged roads and walkways, or fallen trees, please contact Council on 07 577 7000 and provide the exact location.
• Power outages may continue to affect parts of the city. Check updates at www.powerco.co.nz.
• All council parks and reserves with lockable gates will remain closed to the public until Monday morning. Please do not visit any parks or reserves while weather warnings are in place. Strong winds significantly increase the risk of falling branches or trees.

All media advisories are available on Newsbeat.

For information on Western Bay of Plenty District Council updates - Weather Event Information Hub - Cyclone Vaianu

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale has declared a state of local emergency for Tauranga on Saturday 11 April 2026, in preparation for the arrival of Cyclone Vaianu. 

• Cyclone Vaianu is bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, storm surge, high sea levels, and coastal flooding and erosion.
• Heavy rainfall (45–55mm in the hour before high tide) combined with coastal surge may cause rapid and unpredictable flooding. 
• Wave heights of up to 8 metres are expected, increasing the risk of coastal inundation and damage. 
• People in low-lying areas or places that have flooded before should seriously consider self-evacuating now, ahead of high tide at 2:00pm, when conditions are expected to be at their worst. 
• Act early, once flooding begins, roads can become unsafe or impassable very quickly. If you feel unsafe, relocate immediately to friends, whānau, or another safe place. 
• The most dangerous period is around 2:00pm, when high tide coincides with the cyclone passing across Tauranga. 
• Police are door-knocking residents and businesses in high-risk, low-lying areas following early morning high tide impacts to ensure people are aware of the risks and have the information they need to stay safe. 
• Areas being door-knocked include Fraser Cove (Fraser Street closed 12pm–5pm), Burrows Street, and 7th Avenue alongside Memorial Park. 
• Businesses in low-lying areas should consider closing, or ensure they have a plan for staff and customers to safely shelter in place if needed. 
• Areas being closely monitored include: Hairini causeway (south of Hairini Bridge), Chapel Street bridge, Trinity Wharf, Whareroa Marae, Te Hono Street, 1st–5th Avenue (harbour edge), Turret Road, and Taylors Reserve. 
• Other known areas of concern include Otūmoetai, Matua, Bureta, Maungatapu (slips), Chapel Street, Marine Parade, Oceanbeach Road, Omanu Beach and Harrisons Cut, as well as Motiti Road and Taylor Reserve (Pāpāmoa East). 
• Road closure: Fraser Street (from traffic lights near Burger King to Lloyd Street) will be closed from 12pm–5pm due to possible inundation. 
• Stay well away from beaches, cliffs, and sand dunes. Do not swim or surf. Coastal conditions are dangerous, and debris in the water increases the risk of injury. 
• If you need to leave, stay with friends or whānau where possible. An Emergency Assistance Centre is open at Mercury Baypark, Mount Maunganui, and community hubs are open at Matua Bowling Club and the Atrium, Otūmoetai. 
• Power outages are already affecting parts of the city, with the potential for further outages. Check updates at www.powerco.co.nz. 
• All council parks and reserves with lockable gates will be closed to the public until Monday morning. Please do not visit any parks or reserves while weather warnings are in place. Strong winds significantly increase the risk of falling branches or trees.
• With the amount of rain Tauranga has had in recent weeks, there is an increased risk of slips and ground movement, including in areas affected before. These risks can remain even after rain eases. Learn about landslide warning signs here.
• Help others if it is safe to do so, especially people who may require special assistance.
• Please call our contact centre 24/7 on 07 577 7000 to report weather-related issues (e.g., flooding, fallen trees, slips) with the exact location if possible. 
• If life is in danger, call 111 immediately.

All media advisories are available on Newsbeat.

For information on Western Bay of Plenty District Council updates - Weather Event Information Hub - Cyclone Vaianu

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale has declared a state of local emergency for Tauranga on Saturday 11 April 2026, in preparation for the arrival of Cyclone Vaianu. 

• Cyclone Vaianu is bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, storm surge, high sea levels, and coastal flooding and erosion.
• Strong winds are set to continue until 8pm today, with damaging gusts of up to 130km/h possible in exposed areas.
• Destructive winds will cause widespread damage including powerlines and roofs, with dangerous driving conditions and significant disruption to transport and power supply.
• There are already some parts of the city without power. Be ready for power and communication outages. Should you lose power, you can find the most up to date outage information at www.powerco.co.nz.
• Based on MetService warnings we are still expecting heavy rain until 4pm today. Even after the rain eases, streams and rivers can continue to rise, so please take extra care.
• Coastal and harbour inundation is a significant and immediate concern for Tauranga. The most dangerous period is expected around 2pm today – it will be high tide and the centre of the cyclone will be across Tauranga. Once flooding begins, roads may become unsafe or impassable very quickly.
• Act quickly to self-evacuate if you feel unsafe. Tauranga residents living in coastal and low-lying areas that have flooded before should seriously consider self-evacuating now. Known areas of concern include Otūmoetai, Matua, Bureta, Maungatapu (slips), Chapel Street, Marine Parade, Oceanbeach Road, Omanu Beach and Harrisons Cut, as well as Motiti Road and Taylor Reserve (Pāpāmoa East).
• People are encouraged to seek refuge with friends or whānau first where possible. Several marae are open to provide shelter and support. Mercury Baypark is opening as an Emergency Assistance Centre from 8am Sunday and the Community Emergency Hub at Matua Bowling Club will be open from 9am Sunday. A full list of marae providing support is available below in the 'Where to evacuate to' section.
• With the amount of rain Tauranga has had in recent weeks, there is an increased risk of slips and ground movement, including in areas affected before. These risks can remain even after rain eases. Learn about landslide warning signs here.
• All council parks and reserves with lockable gates will be closed to the public until Monday morning. Please do not visit any parks or reserves while weather warnings are in place. Strong winds significantly increase the risk of falling branches or trees.
• Help others if it is safe to do so, especially people who may require special assistance.
• Please call our contact centre 24/7 on 07 577 7000 to report weather-related issues (e.g., flooding, fallen trees, slips) with the exact location if possible. 

All media advisories are available on Newsbeat.

For information on Western Bay of Plenty District Council updates - Weather Event Information Hub - Cyclone Vaianu

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale has declared a state of local emergency for Tauranga, in preparation for the arrival of Cyclone Vaianu.

• Cyclone Vaianu is expected to impact Tauranga from 11pm, Saturday bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, storm surge, high sea levels, and coastal flooding and erosion.
• Coastal and harbour inundation is a significant and immediate concern for Tauranga, with the potential for flooding at levels not previously seen, particularly around the 2pm high tide on Sunday. Known areas of concern include Otūmoetai, Matua, Bureta, Maungatapu (slips), Chapel Street, Marine Parade, Oceanbeach Road, Motiti Road, Omanu Beach, Harrisons Cut and Taylor Reserve (Pāpāmoa East).
• People who live in properties on the coast or in low-lying areas that are known to have flooded before should seriously consider self-evacuating early. People are encouraged to seek refuge with friends or whānau first where possible. 
• Several marae are also open to provide shelter and support. Mercury Baypark is opening as an Emergency Assistance Centre from 8am Sunday and the Community Emergency Hub at Matua Bowling Club will be open from 9am Sunday. A full list of marae providing support is available below in the 'Where to evacuate to' section.
• With the amount of rain Tauranga has had in recent weeks, there is an increased risk of slips and ground movement, including in areas affected before. These risks can remain even after rain eases. Learn about landslide warning signs here.
• With the strong winds we’re expecting it’s possible that power outages may occur. Should you lose power, you can find the most up to date outage information at www.powerco.co.nz 
• All council parks and reserves with lockable gates will be closed to the public until Monday morning. Please do not visit any parks or reserves while weather warnings are in place. Strong winds significantly increase the risk of falling branches or trees. 
• Stay away from beaches, coastal roads, headlands, the harbour edge and rivers or streams and low- lying areas on Sunday. Waves can surge far beyond the shoreline. 
• Adams Avenue, between Maunganui Road and The Mall, will close from 5pm Saturday 11 April. Residents can still access their property although Adams Avenue will be closed to all other vehicles. This is a precautionary approach following geotechnical advice about the current risks on Mauao.
• Help others if it is safe to do so, especially people who may require special assistance.
• Please call our contact centre 24/7 on 07 577 7000 to report weather-related issues (e.g., flooding, fallen trees, slips) with the exact location if possible.

All media advisories are available on Newsbeat.

For information on Western Bay of Plenty District Council updates - Weather Event Information Hub - Cyclone Vaianu

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale has declared a state of local emergency for Tauranga, in preparation for the arrival of Cyclone Vaianu.

• Cyclone Vaianu is expected to impact Tauranga from 11pm, Saturday bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, storm surge, high sea levels, and coastal flooding and erosion.
• Coastal and harbour inundation is a significant and immediate concern for Tauranga, with the potential for flooding at levels not previously seen, particularly around the 2pm high tide on Sunday.
• People who live in properties on the coast or in low-lying areas that are known to have flooded before should seriously consider self-evacuating early. People are encouraged to seek refuge with friends or whānau first where possible. 
• Several marae are also opening to provide shelter and support. Mercury Baypark is opening as an Emergency Assistance Centre from 8am Sunday. A full list of marae providing support is available on Newsbeat.
• With the amount of rain Tauranga has had in recent weeks, there is an increased risk of slips and ground movement, including in areas affected before. These risks can remain even after rain eases. Learn about landslide warning signs here.
• With the strong winds we’re expecting it’s possible that power outages may occur. Should you lose power, you can find the most up to date outage information at www.powerco.co.nz 
• All council parks and reserves with lockable gates will be closed to the public until Monday morning. Please do not visit any parks or reserves while weather warnings are in place. Strong winds significantly increase the risk of falling branches or trees. 
• Stay away from beaches, coastal roads, headlands, the harbour edge and rivers or streams and low- lying areas on Sunday. Waves can surge far beyond the shoreline. 
• Adams Avenue, between Maunganui Road and The Mall, will close from 5pm Saturday 11 April. Residents can still access their property although Adams Avenue will be closed to all other vehicles. This is a precautionary approach following geotechnical advice about the current risks on Mauao.
• Help others if it is safe to do so, especially people who may require special assistance.
• Please call our contact centre 24/7 on 07 577 7000 to report weather-related issues (e.g., flooding, fallen trees, slips) with the exact location if possible.

All media advisories are available on Newsbeat.

For information on Western Bay of Plenty District Council updates - Weather Event Information Hub - Cyclone Vaianu

• Cyclone Vaianu is expected to impact Tauranga from 11pm, Saturday bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, storm surge, high sea levels, and coastal flooding and erosion.
• Coastal and harbour inundation is a significant and immediate concern for Tauranga, with the potential for flooding at levels not previously seen, particularly around the 2pm high tide on Sunday.
• People who live in properties on the coast or in low-lying areas that are known to have flooded before should seriously consider self-evacuating early. People are encouraged to seek refuge with friends or whānau first where possible. 
• Several marae are also opening to provide shelter and support. Mercury Baypark is opening as an Emergency Assistance Centre from 8am Sunday. A full list of marae providing support is available on Newsbeat.
• With the amount of rain Tauranga has had in recent weeks, there is an increased risk of slips and ground movement, including in areas affected before. These risks can remain even after rain eases. Learn about landslide warning signs here.
• With the strong winds we’re expecting it’s possible that power outages may occur. Should you lose power, you can find the most up to date outage information at www.powerco.co.nz 
• All council parks and reserves with lockable gates will be closed to the public until Monday morning. Please do not visit any parks or reserves while weather warnings are in place. Strong winds significantly increase the risk of falling branches or trees. 
• Stay away from beaches, coastal roads, headlands, the harbour edge and rivers or streams and low- lying areas on Sunday. Waves can surge far beyond the shoreline. 
• Adams Avenue, between Maunganui Road and The Mall, will close from 5pm Saturday 11 April. Residents can still access their property although Adams Avenue will be closed to all other vehicles. This is a precautionary approach following geotechnical advice about the current risks on Mauao.
• Help others if it is safe to do so, especially people who may require special assistance.
• Please call our contact centre 24/7 on 07 577 7000 to report weather-related issues (e.g., flooding, fallen trees, slips) with the exact location if possible.

All media advisories are available on Newsbeat.

For information on Western Bay of Plenty District Council updates - Weather Event Information Hub - Cyclone Vaianu

Cyclone Vaianu is expected to impact Tauranga on Sunday, bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, and the potential for coastal inundation.

• This can cause dangerously high sea levels, powerful waves, and rapid coastal flooding. Strong waves and storm surge can flood homes, damage buildings, and destroy roads and services.
• People living near the coast, harbours, estuaries, rivers, and low-lying areas are most at risk. It’s not just big waves, it’s rising ocean water pushing inland and up rivers and streams, flooding homes, roads and communities.
• People should take time now to get ready before Cyclone Vaianu arrives. Act now and not later.
• Be ready to act quickly. Floods and flash floods can happen quickly and without warning, even if it not raining heavily. If you see rising water, do not wait for official warnings. Head for higher ground and stay away from floodwaters – they are dangerous and can be deadly.
• Be prepared to evacuate and keep your grab bag close.
• Help others if it is safe to do so, especially people who may require special assistance.
• Please call our contact centre 24/7 on 07 577 7000 to report weather-related issues (e.g., flooding, fallen trees, slips) with the exact location if possible.

All media advisories are available on Newsbeat.

For information on Western Bay of Plenty District Council updates - Weather Event Information Hub - Cyclone Vaianu