Waves up to 36 feet batter New Zealand, force evacuations

Gale-force winds and powerful swells reaching 11 meters (36 feet) battered New Zealand's Wellington south coast on Tuesday, prompting authorities to order mandatory evacuations and declare a brief local state of emergency before conditions eased. Authorities issued evacuation orders for waterfront communities in Owhiro Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay, Breaker Bay, and Moa Point after waves and winds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour struck the region, according to RNZ.

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little said the decision to declare the emergency was based on early forecasts indicating potentially dangerous coastal flooding comparable to major damage seen in 2020. “No major damage has been reported,” Little said, noting that while waves reached 10-11 meters offshore, their impact closer to shore was less severe than predicted.

Transport chaos

Some flights were cancelled at Wellington Airport, and a small aircraft was reportedly blown over amid the extreme weather. Ferry services across the Cook Strait, including Interislander and Bluebridge sailings, were suspended as a precaution. Gusts of up to 137 km/h (85.1 mph) were also recorded along parts of the Wairarapa coast.

Risks remain

The local state of emergency covering southern and eastern wards was lifted after authorities assessed that risks had reduced, allowing hundreds of evacuated residents to return home. MetService said high swells would persist until Wednesday morning, with authorities cautioning that another high tide cycle overnight could still bring elevated risks despite improving conditions.