Evacuations ordered as Cyclone Cook takes aim at New Zealand

The tropical depression, the tail-end of ex-Cyclone Cook which hit New Caledonia this week, has already generated offshore winds of more than 170 kmh (105 mph). People need to be ready and change their Easter travel plans if necessary.

Chief executive of industry body, New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc (NZKGI) Nikki Johnson, said the group would be monitoring the situation and would assess damages after the weather had cleared.

"People should prepare for the possibility of flooding, landslips, wind damage to powerlines, property and large trees", meteorologist Arno Dyason said.

The official Metservice said it was expected to make landfall overnight Thursday, generating five meter swells, torrential rain and gale force winds.

- 137 schools and 133 Early Childhood centres are closed as Cyclone Cook sets to lash New Zealand.

Cyclone Cook on Monday dumped heavy rain on New Caledonia, where four people were hurt when a tree fell on their vehicle and power supplies were disrupted.

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But roads were blocked by fallen trees and landslides, and about thousands of homes in the eastern Bay of Plenty had lost power. The storm is forecast to bring up to 250mm of rain to the Bay of Plenty, prompting some experts to liken it to the devastating Cyclone Giselle in 1968.

The most important airline Air New Zealand canceled most of their flights, while the army was mobilized by the government to protect and rescue.

The ministry said: "This is an extremely serious weather event".

The tail-end of another powerful cyclone, Debbie had already slammed the country last week, wreaking havoc and leaving the town Edgecumbe flooded by thigh-high water with many people still unable to return to their homes.

Earlier in the day, the city prepared for the worst with gridlock on Auckland motorways as people sought to head off for Easter for the before the storm hit, while others were packing supermarkets buying up supplies.