In photos: Cyclone Gita hits New Zealand

Flooding north of Motueka. Photo / Logan Church

Flooding north of Motueka. Photo / Logan Church

Flooding north of Motueka. Photo / Logan Church

Flooding north of Motueka. Photo / Logan Church

Slips on Takaka Hill. Photo / Logan Church

Slips on Takaka Hill. Photo / Logan Church

Flooding in the Takaka Valley. Photo / Logan Church

Flooding in the Takaka Valley. Photo / Logan Church

Flooding in the Takaka Valley. Photo / Logan Church

The settlement of Hector appears to have faired better than Fehi, most people left the area yesterday and will return today to assess additional damage. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Damage on Speechlys Bridge between Fairlie and Geraldine in the South Island. Photo: NZTA

Powerlines being repaired in Westport. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Buller District Council Chief Executive Andy Gowland Douglas. Civil Defence Westport was busy overnight and would be assessing any damage to homes today. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

The settlement of Hector appears to have fared better than during cyclone Fehi just over a fortnight ago. Most people left the area yesterday and will return today to assess additional damage. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Trees down in a property 5km south of Granity on SH 6. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

The seawall on State Highway 1 north of Pukerua Bay has been washed out by Gita. Photo: Twitter / @NZTAWgtn

Where the Takaka River washed out the road on Cobb Road near the bridge. Photo: Supplied

Sea wall in Granity, after Fehi the wall was destroyed but attempts have been made to build it up again. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Red Cross were packing up in Granity on Wednesday morning and being deployed elsewhere. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Broken fence on Brougham St in Westport. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

The Crickett family are cleaning up trees that came down as a result of former tropical cyclone Gita on Fairdown Road south of Waimangaroa. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

In the early hours after the storm hit the West Coast overnight, Westport is relatively quiet with occassional gusts blowing through. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

State Highway 1 is closed between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki after sustaining damage. Waves washed over both lanes overnight. Photo: NZ Police

Buller district declared a State of Emergency on Tuesday. Corrugated iron could be seen flying along the beach in severe gales. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Planes were grounded at five airports including Wellington because of the incoming storm. Photo: RNZ / Katie Scotcher

Former cyclone Gita is on the way to New Zealand, homes in Granity and along the coast could be inundated from storm surges. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King