15 Feb 2023

Widespread devastation: Gabrielle in pictures

9:03 pm on 15 February 2023
Defence Force brings evacuees from Waiohiki to Hastings sports centre

There were emotional scenes outside an evacuation centre in Hastings as people were reunited. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

The full picture of the devastation from Cyclone Gabrielle is becoming clearer today. We've collected photos from RNZ journalists and readers from across the regions.

Defence Force brings evacuees from Waiohiki to Hastings sports centre

The Defence Force delivered truckloads of people to the evacuation centre in Hastings from Waiohiki. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Flooding in Wairoa after the river burst its banks due to heavy rain from Cyclone Gabrielle.

Flooding in Wairoa after the river burst its banks due to heavy rain from Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: Wairoa District Council's Emergency Controller

A bridge in Wairoa where the river burst its banks, inundating houses in the cut-off northern Hawke's Bay town.

A bridge in Wairoa where the river burst its banks, inundating houses in the cut-off northern Hawke's Bay town. Photo: Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group

Evacuees are assisted in a part of the East Coast in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle

Evacuees on the East Coast prepare to board a rescue helicopter. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

A damaged bridge seen during a flight over Gisborne after Cyclone Gabrielle.

A damaged bridge seen during a flight over Gisborne after Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: East Coast MP Kiritapu Allan

Defence Force brings evacuees from Waiohiki to Hastings sports centre

People were on hand with warm food to offer evacuees from Waiohiki in Hawke's Bay. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Dropping off medical supplies to east coast after Cyclone Gabrielle

Medical supplies are dropped off on the east coast. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Damage to bridges in the East Coast region after Cyclone Gabrielle

Damage to a bridge in the East Coast region. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Damage to bridges in the East Coast region after Cyclone Gabrielle

A bridge has been swept away in the East Coast region. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Flooding seen from the air just outside of Te Karaka, near Gisborne.

Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Flooding seen from the air just outside of Te Karaka, near Gisborne.

RNZ's visual journalist captured these images from just outside Te Karaka, near Gisborne Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Raipoia Brightwell lives on Marion st, Gisborne. The silt is over a metre deep at their home next to the Waimata river.

Raipoia Brightwell lives on Marion st, Gisborne. The silt is over a metre deep at their home next to the Waimata river Photo: RNZ / Kate Green

Raipoia Brightwell lives on Marion st, Gisborne. The silt is over a metre deep at their home next to the Waimata river.

Raipoia Brightwell lives on Marion st, Gisborne. The silt is over a metre deep at their home next to the Waimata river. Photo: RNZ / Kate Green

Amy Spence has help cleaning up her section on Graham Rd in Gisborne. There’s 1.5m of silt in the garden.

Amy Spence has help cleaning up her section on Graham Rd in Gisborne. There's 1.5m of silt in the garden Photo: RNZ / Kate Green

The road is flooded and washed out near Te Araroa, East Cape.

The road is flooded and washed out near Te Araroa, East Cape Photo: Supplied

New slips East Cape Road block access in and out near Te Araroa.

New slips on East Cape Road block access in and out near Te Araroa Photo: RNZ / Māni Dunlop

SH2 just south of the closed bridge between Napier and Hastings. Apples are jammed between the cables where the water level used to be.

SH2 just south of the closed bridge between Napier and Hastings. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

SH2 just south of the closed bridge between Napier and Hastings. Apples are jammed between the cables where the water level used to be.

SH2 just south of the closed bridge between Napier and Hastings. Apples are jammed between the cables where the water level used to be Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

A flooded orchard and apples strewn over the road just outside Hastings.

A flooded orchard and apples strewn over the road just outside Hastings. Photo: RNZ // Angus Dreaver

This footage was taken by Dawson Bliss in the Fernhill area in Hawkes Bay. It shows Ngaruroro River with burst banks flooding homes and Omahu Marae

Also from Dawson Bliss, this flyover near Twyford shows a very large area flooded

Flooding in Te Awa where people were evacuated today.

Flooding in Te Awa where people were evacuated on Wednesday Photo: RNZ / Krystal Gibbens

Blue skies over flooded Te Awa in Hawkes Bay

Blue skies over flooded Te Awa in Hawkes Bay Photo: Krystal Gibbens

Rescued worker stranded for hours on roof as floodwaters rise

An NH90 helicopter and crew recover people from the rooftops of their homes in Esk Valley, Napier.

An NH90 helicopter and crew recover people from the rooftops of their homes in Esk Valley, Napier Photo: Supplied / NZDF

A shortage of supplies is evident, with empty shelves at Pak'nSave in Napier. Queues to get in stretched around the street, with the supermarket limiting the number of people inside at a time.

A shortage of supplies is evident, with empty shelves at Pak'nSave in Napier. Queues to get in stretched around the street, with the supermarket limiting the number of people inside at a time. Photo: RNZ / Krystal Gibbens

A significant slip on SH25 Thames Coast Road

A significant slip on SH25 Thames Coast Road Photo: Thames-Coromandel District Council

Trees snapped off in Kumeū during the high winds that came with Cyclone Gabrielle.

Trees snapped off in Kumeū during the high winds that came with Cyclone Gabrielle Photo: Supplied / Jarred Bishop

A major slip on Manukau Heads Road after Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.

A major slip on Manukau Heads Road Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Severe damage from Cyclone Gabrielle on the road through Marainanga Gorge to Ākito, on the coast east of Dannevirke.

Severe damage on the road through Marainanga Gorge to Ākito, on the coast east of Dannevirke Photo: Supplied

More than a hundred vehicles backed up on Matakana Valley Road, where a large slip is blocking one lane. The police were on-site at the Auckland region road, which is one of two routes between the towns of Wellsford and Leigh.

A large slip on Matakana Valley Road, blocking part of a route between Wellsford and Leigh Photo: Soumya Bhamidipati