The death toll from Cyclone Gabrielle has climbed to 11, as thousands of people remained missing a week after the devastating storm struck the North Island. There has been severe damage to homes, farms, businesses and infrastructure, and the death toll includes a child and two firefighters. Of those, almost 40,000 were in Hawke's Bay, out of a population of about 170,000. Police have sent an extra 100 officers to Hawke's Bay and nearby Tairawhiti, including to isolated areas, and the New Zealand Herald reported roadblocks around a rural Hawke’s Bay village to deter looters. The Herald understands officers told residents the checkpoints could be installed as long as no firearms were involved.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 18, 2023 20:07 UTC