Response to Cyclone Gabrielle

Tonnes of HADR equipment, food, water, fuel, shelter, and generators on its way to the most affected communities in the North Island of Aotearoa. Army, Navy, and Air Force working together for exceptional results.

It's been a month since Cyclone Gabrielle devastated areas in the North Island, and the New Zealand Defence Force continues to work around the clock in response and recovery efforts on the East Coast.

Three weeks after Cyclone Gabrielle touched down, NZDF is still taking in the toll of the damage. The situation remains critical.

We welcome The Republic of Fiji Military Force (RFMF) engineers’ and National Fire Authority contingent to Hawke’s Bay with a powhiri by NZDF Task Group East and local iwi.

Two weeks on since Cyclone Gabrielle hit New Zealand, we still have around 500 personnel involved in response efforts, as well as three planes, four helicopters, one ship and more than 65 trucks.

Our Army Task unit have been proving routes through to Dartmoor to provide petrol and diesel and conduct welfare and health checks as a part of the response to Cyclone Gabrielle.

Deployment of some of our most impressive aircraft and ships is happening to get supplies and services to communities cut off by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Our soldiers assisted contractors and logging crews as they removed slips and trees blocking the road through to Tutira. This work will reconnect the community of Tutira to vital supply chain routes accessible by military vehicles.

New Zealand Army Reserve Force soldier Corporal Storm Harrison was one of the first two New Zealand Defence Force personnel to come to the aid of Esk Valley residents as Cyclone Gabrielle wreaked havoc in Hawke’s Bay.

Communities in need across the North Island wait for support to arrive from camps and bases across Aotearoa. It's an incredible logistical challenge we're prepared for.

Saving cats and dogs in Napier is all part of the important work we're doing in the North Island. In just a few days, we've rescued 17 pooches and 5 felines. Not to mention more than 260 Kiwis.

We've been sending out shipments of supplies, water and food to isolated coastal communities. These hard to reach communities are critically low on resources and some are being evacuated with help from NEMA.

Combat engineers from 2nd Engineer Regiment (2ER) construct a reinforced pulley system, anchored between stable trees, for locals to ferry supplies across a gap where their bridge used to be.

We've spent the past 24 hours continuing to support to the areas of the North Island that need it the most following the severe weather damage. Tonnes of emergency aid is on its way to hard hit areas like Wairoa.

The New Zealand Army have teamed up with locals to resupply Moteo Marae, which is located near Puketapu to the west of Napier.

700+ personnel have been deployed as part of Operation Awhina and to respond to tasks assigned to us from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). This is what we've been up to fr the past 24 hours.

The New Zealand Defence Force continues to increase its support for the response to Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle, surging in hundreds of personnel and a variety of assets on the ground, from the air and at sea.

One NH80 helicopter departed Base Auckland in Whenuapai to deliver supplies to Whangārei Hospital and to survey damage in Dargaville. The other three NH90 helicopters are heading to the Hawke's Bay region.

NZDF personnel are ready and waiting to kick into gear as Cyclone Gabrielle gets closer to touching down in the North Island of Aotearoa. Always ready, all the time.

We're gearing up for the largest tropical storm to ever reach Aotearoa. From sandbagging to storing supplies in civic defence centres across the North Island, you can bet we'll be ready when Gabrielle touches down.

Local Emergency Response Groups at RNZAF Base Auckland (Whenuapai), Devonport Naval Base and 1 (NZ) Brigade at Linton Military Camp have been on notice to move to support local tasks across any affected area.

Auckland emergency staff take a tour of the area on our Seasprite helicopter.

The New Zealand Defence Force will have around 100 personnel in Auckland communities this afternoon helping remove flood-damaged waste ahead of forecast severe weather.

RNZAF Base Auckland (Whenuapai) ready to assist with evacuations as Cyclone Gabrielle threatens to become one of the most devastating tropical storms to ever reach Aotearoa.

Prime Minister Hipkins takes a spin on a Seasprite to survey the damage in Auckland.