New Zealand Post has advised that a national state of emergency was declared on 14 February 2023 in response to Cyclone Gabrielle. Local states of emergency had previously been declared in the following regions and districts of the upper North Island: Northland, Auckland, Tairawhiti, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Waikato and Hawke’s Bay.
The upper North Island is most severely affected, but significant impacts are forecast in the lower North Island and upper/central South Island. Weather warnings/watches are in place in the following areas: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island and other islands in the Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Mount Taranaki, Wairarapa (including the Tararua district), Wellington, Horowhenua, Kapiti Coast, Turikirae Head to Mataikona, Marlborough, Nelson, areas south of Blenheim (including the Kaikoura Coast, Canterbury Plains and the foothills north of the Rakaia River) and the Chatham Islands.
In order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its customers and staff, New Zealand Post has decided to implement the following measures:
- Suspension of all deliveries in red alert areas;
- Suspension of air network operations;
- Suspension of all line haul services to the Far North, Gisborne and Coromandel areas.
