A severe tropical cyclone that caused destruction to Pacific Islands is edging closer to New Zealand.
Cyclone Pam was tonight a category 5 supercyclone, the biggest that had been seen in the Pacific in 30 years.
The Solomon Islands and Vanuatu were in its path last night, and residents and New Zealanders in Vanuatu were fearing the worst.
Vanuatu Meteorological Service director David Gibson said damaging winds of up to 200 km/h were expected to lash the island nation overnight.
"It's likely to reach very close to the central islands about 50 to 100 km east of the our main island Efate," he said.
"Hurricane force winds of this magnitude are going to cause a lot of damage," he said.
The course the cyclone was on was subject to change and it was too early to tell whether there would be loss of life, Mr Gibson said.
He said people had a lot of time to prepare, with warnings of the cyclone beginning last week.
New Zealanders in Vanuatu were scared and unsure of what they would find when they would leave their accommodation tomorrow.
Kylie Steel was in Port Vila for a conference on oral health, which was cancelled when the yellow alert was issued yesterday.
The group she had travelled with had today bought extra wet-weather gear and shoes with the knowledge they might be in a disaster zone when they leave their hotel tomorrow.
"We're aware that there might be a lot of debris and raw sewage and stuff like that," Ms Steel said.
The hotels, shops and businesses in Port Vila all had hoardings on their windows in preparation for cyclone Pam's arrival, which was expected to be about 11pm NZT.
Ms Steel said the hotel she was staying in was boarded up and people staying there had been told not to go outside until tomorrow morning.
"I feel safe and I feel like the guys I'm with are going to be safe. Our biggest risk is probably the ocean, because we're right on the water."
Solomon Islands news agencies had reported many building were destroyed and crops decimated by very heavy rain from the cyclone.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade had warned travellers that flights in and out of Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia would be affected in the coming days.
The cyclone was expected to track south-east on Saturday and authorities in New Zealand were warning the north-east of the North Island would feel the effects of the supercyclone on Sunday and Monday.
MetService has issued a severe weather watch for severe gales in Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Eastern Bay of Plenty and Gisborne and heavy rain in Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Gisborne, Eastern Bay of Plenty ranges and northern Hawkes Bay.
Hawke's Bay Civil Defence group manager Ian Macdonald said people living in Gisborne and northern Hawkes Bay should use their weekend wisely and get prepared for potential bad weather.
"People need to make sure their family emergency plans are up to date, with their properties prepared for strong winds, and a getaway kit all ready - just in case."
Lines company Vector urged people to secure any outdoor furniture and equipment before Sunday night to avoid them being blown on to powerlines.
The departure of the yachts involved in the Volvo Ocean Race has been further put off because of the cyclone.
The earliest the fleet will be leaving Auckland bound for Brazil will now be Tuesday, two days later than the initial departure.
By NZME. News Service
