Overview
- Authorities issued heavy‑swell warnings that forecasted combined southerly waves up to about 9.5–10.5 metres, prompting Wellington City to declare a local state of emergency and order mandatory evacuations for roughly 350 waterfront homes.
- Waves measured at about 11 metres entered Wellington Harbour and gale‑force gusts reached up to 137 km/h on the Wairarapa coast, producing widespread high seas and debris on roads.
- Transport was heavily disrupted as Cook Strait ferry sailings and multiple flights were cancelled, and a parked light aircraft was blown onto its side at Wellington Airport before being secured upright.
- The local state of emergency was lifted and residents were allowed to return after Tuesday, but officials warned of remaining risk around the next high tides and said a heavy swell warning would stay in force for parts of Wairarapa until midday Wednesday.
- Clean‑up crews and inspectors are now checking coastal roads and infrastructure such as Cape Palliser Road, assessing erosion and debris, and Wellington City says it will review the emergency declaration as part of standard post‑event procedures.