Get out of the Sounds: Evacuation advised as Cyclone Gita approaches New Zealand

Monday, 19 February 2018

Campers, trampers and boaties have been told to leave the Marlborough Sounds before Cyclone Gita hits.

Heavy rain and severe gales are expected to hit the top of the south by 4pm on Tuesday, with 'damaging' gusts of 130kmh in exposed places.

Marlborough District Council communications manager Glyn Walters said residents that did not have supplies to last a few days should also consider leaving.

'Some locals need to be prepared to be isolated for some days due to expected road slips, and therefore they could leave today if that suited them. This depends on their circumstances.'  

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'There will be people there that it won't be easy for them to do that, but if you have the option to leave then you should definitely consider it,' he said.

Walters said people should stay with friends or family in Marlborough if they could as heavy rain could cause slips, and large waves in excess of 6 metres were expected.

Walters said people who did not know anyone in Marlborough but wanted to evacuate as a precaution would need to find their own accommodation.

'We are not currently planning on doing that [providing accommodation]. We will be monitoring the situation tomorrow so we will have to see how things go tomorrow in terms of the impact of the storm.'

Outer Sounds resident Rose Patchett said she took a special trip into town on Sunday to make sure she was prepared for the storm.

Patchett said her pantry was well stocked with cans and her survival kit was ready.

'We don't usually go into town on a Sunday but we got a few more extra things just in case,' she said.

Patchett said since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in 2016, she had made a point of being prepared for anything.

She spent the weekend fixing her driveway in Hakahaka Bay, Port Underwood, to try and stop the rain running straight through her section.

'When we get a downpour here it tends to come off the road and right through our section. We did a bit on the weekend to try and put a lip on the driveway to stop the downpour if it comes,' she said.

Patchett said she would go around the bay later checking all loose items were secured.

'I'm the neighbourhood watch lady around here so I will go around and just make sure there's nothing that can fly around. People leave their chairs on the deck so I tend to fold them up,' she said. 

Patchett was concerned her husband Mike might get stranded at work in Picton when Gita hit.

Her property did not have any phone reception. 

'I hope he doesn't get stranded at the other end and can't get back to me. That's what worries me.'

A heavy rain warning was in place from 10am to 10pm on Tuesday, with the strong wind warning from 4pm on Tuesday to 4am on Wednesday. 

'Be aware of fast rising streams and river levels. Expect coastal impacts with high tide overnight Tuesday and before dawn on Wednesday, due to the combination of tides, low air pressure, strong onshore winds and large waves.'

Road closures from high river levels were possible at Pelorus across State Highway 6, Wakamarina Rd, Queen Charlotte Track at Havelock, SH1 beside the Para Swamp and SH63 in the Wairau Valley. 

'The southeast rainfall is likely to cause high flows in the Taylor, Ōpaoa, and lower Awatere tributaries, and localised issues may occur. The Ōpaoa fords could close overnight on Tuesday.

'For the majority of us this is a reminder to be prepared,' the spokesman said.