Wellington Evacuates Hundreds as 11-Meter Waves and 137km/h Winds Batter Coast

3 articles · Updated · RNZ · Jun 9

Hundreds of residents were ordered out of Wellington seafront suburbs Tuesday, with a state of emergency covering the capital's southern and eastern wards.
11-meter swells and winds up to 137km/h hit the coast, blowing over a plane at Wellington Airport and prompting officials to warn that emergency services would not enter evacuated areas.
Ōwhiro Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay and Breaker Bay were under mandatory evacuation orders, while police cleared people from the waterfront and most south coast roads were shut.
Transport links were also disrupted: Interislander and Bluebridge canceled Cook Strait ferries, some Wellington flights were affected, and the Te Ara Tupua harbour path and cycleway closed.
The damage followed warnings a day earlier that monster waves of up to 10.5 meters were approaching Wellington and South Wairarapa.