Stormy conditions battered the shoreline of Island Bay near New Zealand’s capital Wellington. Officials ordered the evacuation of hundreds of residents from coastal homes on Tuesday amid waves reaching 11 meters in height. Wellington Mayor Andrew Little issued a state of emergency for areas including Owhiro Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay and Breaker Bay ahead of the event. Residents were told to avoid the southern coastline, with warnings that emergency services would not assist those who remained. The order began Tuesday morning as police established barriers on nearby roads to block access to the shore. A comparable incident in 2021 impacted properties in Breaker Bay where waves reached about 6.5 meters. Tuesday’s swells entering Wellington Harbour measured 11 meters according to the national weather service. Strong gusts at Island Bay knocked two people off their feet when water surged over the roadway. Several flights were canceled at Wellington Airport due to wind speeds up to 128 kilometers per hour. A small aircraft parked at the facility was tipped onto its side by the wind and later secured by responders.
