Cyclone Tam Leaves 24,000 Homes in the Dark Across New Zealand

New Zealanders will most likely be spending Easter indoors this year.

A MetService image showing Cyclone Tam east of New Zealand on April 16, 2025. Courtesy of MetService

Tropical Cyclone Tam has brought severe weather and widespread disruption to the north of New Zealand’s North Island, with winds described as the strongest in nearly a decade.

Around 24,000 homes had their power cut, and emergency services were disrupted, as authorities warn more chaos may be on the way.

Maritime NZ said the winds in the upper North Island are the strongest recorded since 2017, with the most powerful gust yesterday, of 130 kph, recorded in Cape Reinga at 6 p.m.

Northland Fire and Emergency said it had been a “very wild and windy night across the region,” with crews responding to multiple callouts for fallen trees, downed powerlines, and roofs lifting from homes.

Power Outages and Communication Failures

As of April 17, almost half of all households in the district are still without power, according to the Far North’s Mayor Moko Tepania.

He told RNZ that the rain was still “bucketing down,” and while the state highway network has held up overnight, he expects more local roads will close as crews work out where fallen trees have blocked them.

People in Northland have been told they could face up to three days without power, with 12,000 homes believed to be affected.

A bridge on State Highway 29 in rural Waikato is blocked after a tree fell across the bridge on April 17, 2025. Courtesy of NZ Police

Mobile phone reception has been severely impacted in some areas, complicating access to emergency services.

Telecom provider One NZ announced it was expanding access to Starlink-based satellite texting service to affected areas.

“This means they could text a loved one and ask them to call 111 or emergency services if needed, and if they are in an area where traditional mobile or connectivity networks are disrupted,” he said.

“We urge New Zealanders to charge your phones now and be prepared in case the weather situation gets worse.”

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A National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) video showing the progression of the cyclone. (Courtesy of NIWA)

Emergency Services Stretched

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has responded to more than 150 weather-related callouts since last night. Among them was a couple in their 80s who are still trapped in their home in Auckland’s Mairangi Bay by fallen trees.

Auckland Council received nearly 100 storm-related reports from last night to Thursday morning—roughly half involving fallen trees and half concerning stormwater issues.

The storm caused the Auckland Harbour Bridge to be closed at short notice, with drivers warned more could be in store, and harbour ferries and flights in and out of the city’s airport to be cancelled this morning.

The Royal Princess cruise ship has not been able to depart Auckland as scheduled today and will remain in port.

Cyclones are unusual phenomena in New Zealand, with most weakening enough to lose that classification by the time they make landfall.