Gale-force winds and turbulent seas swept through New Zealand's capital, Wellington, on Tuesday, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency for parts of the city and to advise residents along the south coast to evacuate. Transport services were disrupted, with ferry sailings between the North and South Islands suspended and multiple flights at Wellington airport cancelled.
An airport spokesperson said a light aircraft was briefly blown over by a strong gust after it had landed; the wind tipped the plane onto its wing and wheel. The spokesperson said by email that "nobody was injured and it was quickly righted." The New Zealand Herald reported the aircraft had just completed disembarkation when it was tipped by the gust.
Around eight flights were cancelled at Wellington's airport on Tuesday. Radio New Zealand reported that Air New Zealand had informed passengers that forecast high winds could disrupt some services from Wellington and that the airline had offered rebooking options to affected travellers.
The national weather bureau issued warnings of significant swells, forecasting waves of up to 9 metres (29.5 ft) along Wellington's south coast. The bureau said wave heights were expected to rise rapidly through Tuesday morning and into the early afternoon along the east coasts of both the North and South Islands and at the Chatham Islands.
"We are now entering the forecast period for most significant swell impacts. If you are in the evacuation zone and have not left your property, please shelter in place," Wellington City Council posted on Facebook.
Ferry operations linking the country's two main islands were cancelled on Tuesday as authorities assessed the impact of the high seas and strong winds. Local road closures were also put in place in response to hazardous conditions, and officials urged people in vulnerable coastal areas to follow evacuation directions.
Island Bay resident Jonathan Delich, who owns Cook Strait Fishing Charters, told the New Zealand Herald he had called off all charter operations scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. "We wouldn’t take you fishing even if you wanted to ... no one in their right mind would go out on the water today," Delich said.
As conditions evolved, authorities continued to monitor the swell and wind forecasts and to communicate safety guidance to residents and travellers. Services and operators affected included airport flight schedules, ferry providers, and small commercial charter operations, all of which experienced direct disruption from the storm and associated marine conditions.
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