Weather
Cyclone Gita: Homes destroyed as storm hits
The Red Cross says several houses have already been destroyed in Tonga, with the full force of Cyclone Gita yet to hit.
Cyclone Gita hits Tonga: Emergency teams out before dawn
Tropical Cyclone Gita has wreaked havoc in Tonga. On Tongatapu, winds of over 233km/h ripped roofs off houses, brought down trees, destroyed a Catholic church, and took the Tongan Met Office and the… Audio
Holidaygoers get ready for rocky night in Tonga hotel
Customers and staff at Tanoa International Hotel in Tonga are preparing to ride out the cyclone. General manager Jason Strickland talks to Bridget Burke. Audio
Tonga incredibly vulnerable to sea surges
Logistics and Disaster Risk Reduction Manager in Nuku'alofa, Graham Kenna, says Tonga will rely heavily on foreign assistance in the aftermath of Cyclone Gita. Video, Audio
Super cyclone to hit Tonga and Fiji
A state of emergency has been declared as the Kingdom braces for Cyclone Gita, which is expected to reach category five, and hit later tonight. Audio
Checkpoint weather: Monday 12 February
Metservice Meterologist John Law with the latest weather forecast. Video, Audio
Severe cyclones a part of life in Pacific
Tonga is bracing for the full force of Cyclone Gita this evening, with memories still fresh of another category five storm which caused major damage four years ago.
Cyclone Gita still expected to increase to category 5
MetService meteorologist Georgina Griffiths joins Checkpoint live with the latest forecast on cyclone Gita, including what impact it could have as it moves towards New Zealand. Video, Audio
'Air of complacency' in Tonga, despite approaching cyclone
TVNZ reporter Barbara Dreaver is in Tonga. She tells John Campbell there is an 'air of complacency' in Tonga, as many people have never experienced a category 5 cyclone and don't understand how… Video, Audio
Tonga bracing for winds up to 250km/h
Tonga's MetService director Ofa Fa'anunu says many people are in evacuation shelters, preparing for the worst, as they brace for Cyclone Gita. Audio
Raw sewage spills onto Nelson beaches
People in Nelson are being warned not to swim or take shellfish at local beaches that could be polluted by untreated sewage.
Bay of Plenty braces for heavy downpour
Heavy rain and possible thunderstorms are forecast for the Bay of Plenty, including Rotorua.
Fishers need to adapt to warmer waters - scientist
The effects of climate change at sea could mean the end of some species and the arrival of new types of warm-water fish.
Fishing industry must adapt to warming ocean - NIWA
A leading marine scientist says New Zealand's commercial fishing industry might have to adapt, or risk decline as ocean temperatures warm. Professor Cliff Law of the National Institute of Water and… Audio
Heavy rain forces cancellation of Big Gay Out
Heavy rain yesterday forced cancellation of Auckland's iconic Big Gay Out festival - for the first time in its more-than-30-year history. Organisers pulled the plug around midday, when pools of water… Audio
Cyclone Gita: Fiji, Tonga braces for impact
Tropical Cyclone Gita is making its way across the Pacific where it's expected to reach wind speeds of up to 148km/h. It's already hit Samoa, where a disaster has been declared, and is now crossing… Audio
Samoa faces months of cleaning up after cyclone hits
The devastation wrought by Cyclone Gita in Samoa is expected to take months to clean-up. Some parts of the country are still underwater as emergency teams work to restore power and running water to… Audio
Cyclone Gita leaves devastation across Pacific
A massive clean up is underway across Samoa and American Samoa after they bore the brunt of Tropical Cyclone Gita at the weekend. A disaster was declared in Samoa, more than 200 people sought… Audio
Flights start to resume as Wellington fog clears
Flights have resumed at Wellington Airport as the fog that covered the airport has lifted.
Heavy rain heading in again
Wet weather in the top of the North Island is set to worsen and downpours are heading for the top and west of the South Island.
