Cyclone Vaianu made landfall in New Zealand's North Island on Sunday (April 12), triggering floods, power outages and forcing hundreds to evacuate.

The cyclone crossed the coast near the Maketu Peninsula, packing destructive winds exceeding 130 kph (80 mph), heavy rain and large swells, national weather provider MetService said, describing Vaianu as a "life-threatening" system.

Authorities have placed several regions under emergency declarations and issued "red" level wind warnings, which are reserved for only the most extreme weather events.

The cyclone has forced hundreds of residents to evacuate and knocked out electricity to 5,000 homes, with power restored to roughly 2,000, said Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchells.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

UNIDENTIFIED LOCATIONS, NEW ZEALAND (APRIL 12, 2026) (TVNZ – Broadcast: No use New Zealand. Digital: No use New Zealand internet sites / any internet site of any New Zealand or Australia based media organisations or mobile platforms)

1. STRONG WAVES WASHING IN

2. VARIOUS OF STRONG WIND LASHING AT TREES

3. MAN STANDING AGAINST STRONG WIND

4. VARIOUS OF FALLEN TREES NEAR WHAKATANE HOTEL

5. WIND BLOWING THROUGH TOWN / UPROOTED TREE

6. FIRE TRUCK PARKED ALONG ROADSIDE

7. FIRST RESPONDERS ENTERING RESIDENCE COMPOUND, NEAR FALLEN TREE

8. FALLEN TREE LEANING ON HOUSE

9. SIGN ON ROAD, READING (English): "EVACUATE OHOPE NOW", "LEAVE BEFORE 12PM"

10. ROAD SIGN, READING (English): "ROAD CLOSED"

11. MILITARY OFFICERS WALKING NEAR VEHICLE / SIREN SOUNDING

12. TREE DEBRIS STREWN ACROSS FIELD

13. VARIOUS OF FALLEN TREE

14. VARIOUS OF STRONG WAVES CRASHING

15. CLOSED ROAD

16. POINT-OF-VIEW FROM CAR WINDSHIELD AS VEHICLE MOVES THROUGH RAIN SHOWERS

17. WAVES CRASHING IN

18. WIND LASHING AT TREES

19. VARIOUS OF FLASH FLOODS ON ROADS

20. CAR MOVING PAST TREE DEBRIS ON ROAD

21. MAN STANDING ON BRIDGE AND LOOKING ON

22. WAVES CRASHING