Cyclone Gita is set to bring 12-metre waves in areas near its centre when it hits New Zealand, leading to significant coastal damage and flooding. The upper South Island could also get very heavy rain. Damaging winds could extend for hundreds of kilometres from the centre of Gita. Cyclone Gita ravaged parts of Samoa, Tonga and southern Fiji this week and last weekend. By the time the cyclone hit Tonga it was a category four and a state of emergency was declared.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 17, 2018 01:18 UTC