Skip to main content

Response to Cyclone Gabrielle

A violent tropical cyclone devastated the North Island of New Zealand on February 2023. Cyclone Gabrielle is the costliest tropical cyclone to ever hit the Southern Hemisphere, with total damages estimated to be over NZ$13.5 billion. We were there, ready at all times to do our part.

20231702 CYCLONE GABRIELLE 5 7 BATT 011

2 May 2023

Video: Navy divers get drinking water flowing

An eight-person team from HMNZS Matataua restored Gisborne’s water supply flow, after diving in a severely blocked treatment plant to remove silt.

An eight-person team from HMNZS Matataua restored Gisborne’s water supply flow, after diving in a severely blocked treatment plant to remove silt.

20230219 NZDF R1055669 012

Royal New Zealand Navy: Navy divers get drinking water flowing (Cyclone Gabrielle)

17 March 2023

Tonnes of supplies being delivered to those in need

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

16 March 2023

A month on from total devastation and Aotearoa is still reeling

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

27 February 2023, 2.00pm

It's all hands on deck for Cyclone Gabrielle response efforts

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

24 February 2023, 2.02pm

Video: Reconnecting communities in the Hawke’s Bay.

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

23 February 2023, 10.07pm

Video: Reflections - Esk Valley (Cyclone Gabrielle)

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

22 February 2023

People, pets, and livestock rescued from flooded houses, streets and paddocks in North Island

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

21 February 2023

Personnel and health staff sent to Hawke's Bay to get healthcare to the people

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

18 February 2023, 10.14pm

Video: Rissington resupply task (Cyclone Gabrielle)

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

18 February 2023, 5.00pm

Every hour counts in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

17 February 2023, 8.00pm

NZDF working closely with NEMA to confront cyclone disaster

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

15 February 2023

Cyclone Gabrielle testing the limits of Aotearoa's people, but our Force is ready for action

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

14 February 2023

Multi-agency response includes NZDF's NH80 helicopters

One NH90 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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

13 February 2023

Ready to respond across the Northland, Auckland, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty areas

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

12 February 2023

NZ Army delivers emergency supplies ahead of cyclone Gabrielle

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.

Read Full Media Release

2 February 2023, 3.56pm

Camps and bases get ready to rumble with Cyclone Gabrielle

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

1 February 2023

NZDF deploys specialist team and clean-up parties as Cyclone Gabrielle approaches

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.

Read Full Media Release

31 January 2023

Even the largest tropical storm in Aotearoa can't stop us from doing our job

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.

{{ isLoading ? 'Loading' : isRevealed ? 'Less' : 'Read More' }}

Story Collections

20231201 NZDF C1033116 101
20231201 NZDF C1033116 101

9

HMNZS Manawanui in Samoa

20240904 NZDF K1071142 008
20240904 NZDF K1071142 008

7

Introducing the C-130J

20240521 NZDF C1033116 004
20240521 NZDF C1033116 004

4

New Caledonia departures

Contingent 3 2
Contingent 3 2

3

Marking 80 years since the Battles of Cassino

Training1 Credit ADF
Training1 Credit ADF

14

Support to Ukraine

NZDF Kiwi
NZDF Kiwi

4

Wai 2500 Military Veterans Kaupapa Inquiry

NZDF Kiwi
NZDF Kiwi

1

Burnham fire

Kiwi
Kiwi

11

NZDF People of the Year Awards 2023

Invictus 2023 banner
Invictus 2023 banner

22

Invictus Games 2023

Light Armoured Vehicles lined up in the Waiouru Military Training Area
Light Armoured Vehicles lined up in the Waiouru Military Training Area

5

Protected Mobility Capability Project