Cyclone Gita battered Tonga last week with devastating winds that left thousands fleeing their homes. Now the tropical storm is heading for New Zealand.
New Zealand is expecting to be battered with ferocious gales and huge sea surges as waves over 6metres tall are likely to flood the coastline.
Regions including Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson, parts of the West Coast, Wellington and Horowhenua are expected to be lashed by more than 100 millimetres of rainfall in just 24 hours.
Cyclone Gita could bring gales with gusts of over 150kmh and heavy rain to a vast swathe of the country when it hits on Tuesday evening.