Large swathes of the North Island are now under a state of emergency, with many regions feeling the force of Cyclone Gabrielle.
A state of emergency has been declared in Northland, Auckland, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato, Ōpōtiki and Tairāwhiti and Whakatāne as the storm starts to hit.
Evacuations are being recommended in some parts of the East Coast.
In Northland, tens of thousands are without power and evacuations are already taking place.
Amy Williams reports.
