New Zealand is being battered by cyclone Gita after the tropical storm devastated the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Tonga last week.

Seven districts - including Christchurch, Grey District and Buller District have declared a state of emergency as the cyclone began to make landfall overnight.

Tens of thousands were without power on Tuesday night as locals were warned to prepare for floods, huge waves and gusts of winds reaching close to 200km/h.

New Zealand defence force troops were deployed as reports came through that homeowners were trapped on their roofs by flood waters.

More than 60 tourists , mostly from China, are reportedly trapped inside two tour buses in Whataroa, on the South Island, as the eye of the storm passes through.

The council has urged people to stay inside and not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary.

Even before the storm hit in full force, heavy rains in the centre of New Zealand brought floods in Christchurch, prompting a warning from Mayor Lianne Dalziel.

'The full impact of the storm will be felt overnight and tomorrow morning,' she said, urging residents of low-lying areas to evacuate.

'We are expecting homes to be flooded.'

Air New Zealand said all flights to the capital would be grounded from 2.45 pm as weather authorities issued warnings of severe weather and heavy rain.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said troops had fanned out to areas likely to be the hardest hit and the national Civil Defence office in Wellington was on standby to help.

'My message still to people is please look out for your local warnings and expect disruption to travel and please just be careful,' she told reporters at parliament.

Cyclone Gita hit the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Tonga last week, packing winds up to 275 km/h.

Fiji escaped major damage but Tonga suffered widespread destruction and flooding. Earlier, the storm had caused extensive damage in Samoa and American Samoa.

The cyclone had since been downgraded to a storm, but forecasters said it was still likely to wreak havoc on Tuesday evening as it traversed the centre of New Zealand.

Parts of the country are still reeling from a huge storm that prompted authorities to declare states of emergency at the beginning of February.

More than 40 schools and preschools shut in the upper South Island, while mayors urged people to stay home. </s> These live updates have now finished. Please click here for Wednesday's live updates.

Cyclone Gita has hit New Zealand, turning rush hour to chaos and forcing evacuations.

The cyclone swept across the Pacific last week, bringing destruction and devastation to Tonga and Samoa. It's now expected to slam into New Zealand's southern North Island and the northern half of the South Island.

Motorists are urged to delay travel, with roads expected to close in major urban centres. The NZTA says driving conditions are likely to be treacherous in many affected areas, with heavy rain and very strong winds.

The Marlborough District Council has warned campers and boaties to leave the area immediately.

What you need to know:



Gale-force gusts, slips, flooding and coastal inundation is predicted

Civil Defence staff have been pre-deployed to the areas that will be worst affected

Taranaki, Nelson Tasman, Westland, Selwyn, Christchurch, Buller and Grey districts have each delcared a State of Emergency

New Zealanders are being urged to prepare emergency evacuation plans and have a grab-bag ready

People have been advised not to travel during the storm and several schools have been closed

Kaikoura has been cut off due to the closure of both SH1 and SH70

State Highway 6 has been closed from Westport to Greymouth and from Hokitika to Franz Josef Glacier

State Highway 60 has been closed from Riwaka to Tākaka



Riwaka residents have been evacuated as the river is near to bursting its banks

These live updates have now ended. </s> Cyclone Gita is expected to crash into New Zealand on Tuesday evening and is on track to make landfall on the northwest of the South Island. The Met Service has warned that Gita could be packing gusts of up to 120kmph (75mph) and as located off the north-west coast of New Zealand. In the footage, a live stream from Lyall Bay, in Wellington, shows calm weather before the monster storm makes landfall.

An update from Met Service yesterday read: “TC Gita is forecast to continue moving southwards as a Category 2 Tropical Cyclone for the next 36 hours, and the track will gradually start to tilt southeastwards. “Once it reaches approximately 35S, TC Gita is expected to undergo a transition into an extra-tropical cyclone. “Although it will lose its status as a tropical cyclone, Gita will still be a significant low-pressure system, bringing severe weather to many parts of the country. “It will maintain storm force winds around the centre of the storm, and possibly reach hurricane force. While it will no longer be a tropical cyclone, that does not mean it will have weakened or dissipated.

“Once it undergoes this transition, it will no longer be referred to as Tropical Cyclone Gita – instead, it will become simply Cyclone Gita.” The weather forecast predicts the storm to “pass over the upper South Island overnight Tuesday/Wednesday”. Met Service added Cyclone Gita was expected to bring “severe weather” to parts of New Zealand. A watch for heavy rain and severe gales have also been issued for some parts of the country. Senior meteorologist for Met Service New Zealand, Lisa Murray, said they were “most concerned” about the South Island.

She said: “You can see much of the country is under a Watch or a warning. There are wind speeds that will reach 90 kmph (55mph) or gusts of more than 110kmph (68mph) so 120kmph (75mph) gusts. “All this area in the South Island is under warning. Also the North Island… into the central region and the rest of the area is under watch. “This central region and the South Island is what we are most concerned about. The forecaster Ms Murray also warned about the rainfall that will batter New Zealand as the cyclone hits the country. </s> Cyclone Gita is pounding New Zealand with torrential rain, damaging winds and large waves.

Tens of thousands of people have lost power, a number of major roads are impassable and flights to and from Wellington International Airport have been suspended until the cyclone has cleared.

There are also reports of people being trapped on their roofs by flood waters and one person being swept away, according to the New Zealand Herald.

Seven provinces - Christchurch, Buller District, Grey District, Selwyn, Westland, Tasman and Taranaki - have declared states of emergency.

Waves as high as 6.7 metres have been pounding the coast and a gust of 130 kilometres per hour (kmph) was reported in Hawera.

A staggering 256 millimetres of rain fell in the Kaikoura Ranges in just 18 hours, and of that, 53.6mm of that fell in one hour, making it the wettest hour ever recorded in New Zealand.

The cyclone developed two weeks ago in the southern Pacific Ocean near the waters of Fiji.

It then rapidly strengthened as it grazed Niue and headed towards the islands of Tonga, which was badly hit. The entirety of the main island of Tongatapu lost power and the storm destroyed numerous homes, churches and even the nation's historic Parliament House.

Gita then skirted the south of New Caledonia, but caused no major damage, before curving to the south and running towards the land of the long white cloud.

The storm is expected to take about 6 hours to cross the South Island, with the centre of Gita clearing the east coast around 15GMT (3am local time).

Even as the storm clears, more rain is forecast on Wednesday, exacerbating the flooding problems and hampering the clear up efforts. </s> WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand’s national carrier on Tuesday cancelled all flights in and out of the capital, Wellington, and the southern city of Christchurch declared a state of emergency as the remnants of tropical cyclone Gita pummelled the country.

Even before the storm hit in full force, heavy rains in the centre of New Zealand brought floods in Christchurch, prompting a warning from Mayor Lianne Dalziel.

“The full impact of the storm will be felt overnight and tomorrow morning,” she said, urging residents of low-lying areas to evacuate. “We are expecting homes to be flooded.”

Air New Zealand said all flights to the capital would be grounded from 2.45 p.m. (0145 GMT) as weather authorities issued warnings of severe weather and heavy rain and gusts of up to 150 kph (93 mph).

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said troops had fanned out to areas likely to be the hardest hit and the national Civil Defence office in Wellington was on standby to help.

“My message still to people is please look out for your local warnings and expect disruption to travel and please just be careful,” she told reporters at parliament.

Cyclone Gita hit the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Tonga last week, packing winds up to 275 kph (171 mph). Fiji escaped major damage but Tonga suffered widespread destruction and flooding. Earlier, the storm had caused extensive damage in Samoa and American Samoa.

The cyclone had since been downgraded to a storm, but forecasters said it was still likely to wreak havoc on Tuesday evening as it traversed the centre of New Zealand.

Parts of the country are still reeling from a huge storm that prompted authorities to declare states of emergency at the beginning of February.

More than 40 schools and preschools shut in the upper South Island, while mayors urged people to stay home.

Transport authorities shut a stretch of highway along the east coast of the South Island and the Department of Conservation was closing seaside hiking tracks and campsites along the West Coast and ushering tourists away from low-lying areas, media said. </s> NUKN'ALOFA (TONGA): Tonga declared a state of emergency Monday as a powerful cyclone bears down on the Pacific island nation after wreaking havoc in neighbouring Samoa.

Acting Prime Minister Semisi Sika issued the nationwide alert, saying he was "satisfied that an emergency is happening or is about to happen in the kingdom".

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita is intensifying as it approaches and the Fiji Meteorological Service predicted it will become a maximum category five storm before reaching Tonga on Monday night.

It is already packing wind gusts of 220 kmh (137 mph) as it gathers strength some 370 kilometres east of Tonga's most populous island Tongatapu.

Gita slammed into Samoa overnight Friday, forcing the evacuation of some 200 people and causing widespread flooding, leaving many without power and electricity.

Tonga's information ministry said evacuation centres were being prepared across the kingdom and advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

"Every family should have an emergency kit packed in their homes," it said.

"Everyone should be mindful of what might cause damage within their homes such as large trees that can potentially damage a house."

Cyclones are common in the Pacific at this time of year, with top-of-the-scale category five systems proving highly destructive when they make landfall.

Cyclone Winston killed 44 people in Fiji in 2016 and Cyclone Pam claimed 11 lives and damaged 65,000 homes in Vanuatu in 2015. </s> The Tongan government declared a state of emergency on Monday ahead of the storm’s arrival as thousands of islanders scrambled to seek shelter at newly set-up evacuation centres. Cyclone Gita battered Tonga overnight, ripping roofs off buildings, smashing homes and tearing down power lines. The government’s Parliament House building was completely flattened while flooding was widespread. No deaths have been reported to date and the cyclone has now left the South Pacific Polynesian Kingdom.

This evening, Gita is forecast to hit southern Fiji as a category 5 cyclone as it intensifies over Fijian waters. Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama warned residents to "heed warnings and prepare", although the storm is expected to bypass heavily populated areas. Tonga, located east of Fiji and north of New Zealand, is usually celebrated for its beautiful white-sand beaches and serene islands, making it a popular honeymoon destination.

Today, the Pacific Ocean nation looked more like a nightmare, with around 40 percent of homes damaged and felled trees marking flooded roads. A clean-up operation started from around 1.30am today (local time) with soldiers clearing the roads to enable people to get medical attention. NZ Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said in a statement: “The full extent of damage caused by Cyclone Gita is still being assessed but there is an immediate need for assistance on the ground. "About 5,700 people sought shelter in evacuation centres overnight, and it is expected these numbers will increase substantially tonight."

Graham Kenna, an Australian government adviser at Tonga's National Emergency Management Office said there were a lot of injured people, some seriously. He said: ”Every second power pole has been knocked over and the lines are just everywhere," adding it would likely be days before power could be restored. New Zealand - which may yet be hit by the tropical storm, has pledged NZ$750,000 ($545,000) in aid. A NZ Air Force Hercules aircraft was due to fly emergency relief supplies into Tonga today. Australia is also donating A$350,000 ($275,000) worth of emergency shelter, kitchen and hygiene kits. </s> Cyclone Gita, which caused havoc in Tonga last week and was recently upgraded to category five, now has New Zealand in its "firing line".

The storm's passage was "expected to bring a period of high-impact severe weather to many parts of central New Zealand," MetService said in a severe weather warning issued midday Monday.

And meteorologist Nick Zacher said the latest forecast track continued to show Gita crossing northern portions of the South Island from Tuesday into Wednesday morning.

Cyclone Gita could bring gales with gusts of over 150kmh and heavy rain to a vast swathe of the country when it hits on Tuesday evening.

Regions including Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson, parts of the West Coast, Wellington and Horowhenua are expected to be lashed by more than 100 millimetres of rainfall in just 24 hours.

Express.co.uk brings you the latest updates on Cyclone Gita LIVE. All times in GMT. </s> Cyclone Gita battered Tonga last week with devastating winds that left thousands fleeing their homes. Now the tropical storm is heading for New Zealand.

New Zealand is expecting to be battered with ferocious gales and huge sea surges as waves over 6metres tall are likely to flood the coastline.

Regions including Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson, parts of the West Coast, Wellington and Horowhenua are expected to be lashed by more than 100 millimetres of rainfall in just 24 hours.

Cyclone Gita could bring gales with gusts of over 150kmh and heavy rain to a vast swathe of the country when it hits on Tuesday evening.
Seven regions in New Zealand declare states of emergency as Cyclone Gita makes landfall.