Civil Defence information

Public information about Cyclone Gabrielle is being led by local Civil Defence agencies. See below for where to find Civil Defence information in your region. You can also check the Local Civil Defence groups webpage.

Northland Civil Defence

Auckland Emergency Management

Tairāwhiti Civil Defence

Ōpōtiki Civil Defence

Thames Coromandel District Council

Waikato District Council

Hauraki District Civil Defence

Whakatāne District Civil Defence

Bay of Plenty Civil Defence

Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence

Tararua District Council

Below, you'll find links to the most up to date information on welfare centres providing emergency support and accommodation across the northern region.

Northland Regional Council - Civil Defence information page, also see info below:

If you need information, assistance or to report urgent cyclone-related issues in the Northland area, here are the key contact numbers for each district:

• Whangarei: 0800 932 463

• Far North: 0800 920 029

• Kaipara: If you require welfare assistance due to Cyclone Gabrielle please contact 09 439 1111. To report damage to roads or log other service requests please phone 0800 727 059.

Whangārei Civil Defence centre - also Terenga Paraoa Marae on Porowini Ave

Auckland Civil Defence list of welfare centres and shelters

Hawkes Bay Civil Defence list of welfare centres by area - or phone the Auckland Emergency Management (Civil Defence) team on freephone 0800 22 22 00.

Thames/Coromandel Civil Defence list of welfare centres

Tāirawhiti information page - welfare centres are currently being set up but in the meantime, please phone 0800 653 800 day or night for assistance

Taranaki Emergency Management info page - keep an eye on this page for developments and updates

If you and/or your aiga need emergency welfare help, please phone the Ministry of Social Development on freephone 0800 400 100.

• Civil Defence payments are available for people affected by the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
• You don't need to be on a benefit to qualify for a Civil Defence payment.
• In most cases, it doesn't matter what your income is.
• For more information about the Civil Defence payment, visit the Work & Income website.

Regularly updated key safety messages for getting through an emergency event.

• Keep up to date with MetService weather forecasts.
• Be aware that storms can trigger floods and landslides.  Make sure you know how to respond.
• Follow your local Civil Defence groups for the latest updates and advice for your area on the Civil Defence website.
• Have a plan for what your whānau will do in an emergency and don't forget to include your pets. Check out the Get Ready website for tips and advice.
• Have grab bags ready for everyone in your family. These will include medications, snacks, water, torches, pet food, baby formula (if needed).
• Remove any debris or loose items from around your property and tie down your trampoline and other heavy outdoor objects.
• Check on your neighbours and anyone who might need your help.
• Power cuts could affect EFTPOS and ATM machines, so make sure you have some cash at home, or enough supplies to see you through three days or more.
• Know which paddocks are safe if you have livestock. To prevent risks from lightning, move livestock away from floodwaters, landslides, power lines, and isolated trees.
• Work out what supplies you might need.
• Have materials and tools ready to repair windows, such as tarpaulins, boards and duct tape.
• Find out which local radio stations to listen to in an emergency – your local Civil Defence Emergency Management Group will have information on this.
• Storms can cause flooding in coastal areas. Be ready to act quickly. Coastal flooding can happen quickly and the warning time may be short. If you feel unsafe, evacuate to higher ground or away from coastal areas. You do not need to wait for an evacuation order to move to safety.
• Find out what to do before, during and after a storm. https://getready.govt.nz/en/emergency/storms/
• For food safety advice following a natural disaster, please visit the Ministry for Primary Industries website.

Pacific Response Hub

The People's Place, 5 Otāra Road, Otāra

• 9 am - 5 pm
• Access to all services at the hub is free of charge

The Pacific Response Hub is a joint venture between key central and local government agencies and local South Auckland community providers.

The Pacific Response Hub exists to create a physically accessible, culturally appropriate hub to fulfil the requirements of Pacific families for short to medium-term support as a result of the Auckland floods.

The hub is committed to providing:

• Follow Up support for families who have received immediate emergency support from AEM and Civil Defence
• A family-friendly environment and physical space for affected families and individuals to connect and identify their needs through short-medium term care plans.

We welcome you to come in, we'd love to be able to support you. We have a range of partner agencies and community providers who want to help with mapping out the support you can get, for the next few weeks, in the areas of Employment, Education, Health & Medical, Financial and Food Assistance as well as Social and Disability.

NB: Please note some support conversations may take up to 15 minutes, but we welcome you to enjoy the refreshments we have on-site while you wait to be seen.

National Emergency Management Agency (Civil Defence)

The National Emergency Management Agency (Civil Defence) has the most up-to-date information on the situation in the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and northern areas. Please visit their website at:

• National Emergency Management Agency website
• Auckland Floods All-of-Government Factsheet

Auckland Emergency Management Facebook page

Visit the Auckland Emergency Management Facebook page for live situation updates:

• Auckland Emergency Management Facebook

Translated general information about flooding is available in 12 languages, including Lea Faka-Tonga and Gagana Samoa. Click on the Get Ready government web page and select your language in the top right corner of the page.

• Get Ready website

Auckland Council

The Auckland Council has a webpage that includes regular news updates for the area and information such as where emergency Civil Defence centres are located.

• Auckland Council website

Northland Region

• Northland Regional Council Facebook
• Civil Defence Northland Facebook

Waikato District

• Waikato District Council Facebook
• Civil Defence Waikato Facebook

Thames Coromandel

• Thames Coromandel District Council website
• Thames Coromandel District Council Facebook

Bay of Plenty

• Bay of Plenty Regional Council Facebook
• Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Facebook

Waitomo District Council

The Waitomo District Council provides Civil Defence updates and information for the Waitomo region. For welfare assistance please phone 0800 932 4357.

• Waitomo District Council website
• Waitomo District Council Facebook

Ministry of Education

• Information on School closures

Kāinga Ora housing support

If you or your aiga are living in a Kāinga Ora home that has been damaged by flooding, please call the Kāinga Ora team on freephone 0800 801 601.

If the damage means you're unable to live in your home at the moment, please contact the Auckland Emergency Management (Civil Defence) team on freephone 0800 22 22 00.

Power outages

To check power outages around the area, you can visit the Vector website and enter your address for the latest updates:

• Vector website

Water and wastewater issues

For information on affected water and wastewater services, visit:

• Watercare website page
• Watercare Facebook page
• Watercare Instagram page
• Watercare Twitter page

Road closures

For the latest updates on road closures and travel advice around the region, visit:

• Waka Kotahi | New Zealand Transport Agency

MetService

For weather updates visit the MetService website.

Te Whatu Ora | Ministry of Health

Floodwaters can carry bugs that cause disease from the ground surface, septic tanks, and sewerage systems.

It’s important to make sure your food and water aren’t contaminated and to clean up, drain and dry out the house as quickly as possible.

For information on staying safe after a flood, including food and water safety, go to the Te Whatu Ora floods and health web page.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS)

ARPHS has a flooding information page on their website, including health and safety advice and some tips on cleaning up after a flooding event.

ARPHS website

South Seas Flood Relief Response

South Seas Healthcare is based in Otara, South Auckland, and is available to provide immediate well-being support. If you or a member of your aiga has been affected by the flooding and are in need of well-being or food support, please phone the team on freephone 0800 31 13 31.

• South Seas Healthcare Facebook page

Kelston Community Hub

The Kelston Community Hub is providing emergency welfare support.

• Address: 68 St Leonards Road, Kelston, Auckland.
• Phone: (09)813 9670
• Kelston Community Hub Facebook page

Siaola Vahefonua Tonga Methodist Mission

Siaola is available to provide food and shelter for people affected by the flooding event. If you need help, please call them on freephone 0800 SIAOLA (0800 742 652).

Siaola Community Hub address: 636 Great South Road, Ellerslie, Auckland.

• Siaola website
• Siaola Facebook page

Brown Buttabean

• Brown Buttabean Facebook page

Etu Pasifika Auckland

Etu Pasifika Auckland is available to provide emergency support. You can call them on freephone 0800 ETURERE (0800 388 7373).

Pacifika Futures

• Pacifika Futures Facebook Page

The Cause Collective

A social change organisation focused on the well-being of Pacific peoples and South Auckland communities. 

• The Cause Collective Facebook page

The Fono Feleoko Food Hub

If you need food support for you and/or your aiga, please call the Food Hub on freephone 0800 FONO4U (0800 366 648).

• The Fono Facebook page

The Spinoff

An inexhaustive list of community assistance in the Auckland area compiled by Spinoff staff writers, including support for kai, clothing, bedding, clean up, babies, animals, accommodation and finance.

• Auckland floods: Where to get help and how to help