Andrew Little yesterday declared the state of emergency for Southern and Eastern Wards, and a mandatory evacuation order for waterfront properties in Ōwhiro Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay and Breaker Bay due to forecast severe winds of up to 100km/h and huge waves. Lyall Bay was not included.
Waves of up to 11 metres high and strong winds pummelled the capital and Wairarapa coasts today.
About 350 seafront properties were given until 9am to evacuate, and those who failed to leave were told to shelter in place as high tide hit about 11.30am. Wellington City Council said some people did not heed the warning, but did not know how many.
"We've been keeping a close eye on the situation through the day. We've seen waves as high as 11 metres but they're not coming as frequently as MetService was predicting," Little said in a statement about 5pm.
"The advice is the danger has reduced sufficiently to lift the local State of Emergency."
Traffic cordons would be removed and residents who had evacuated would be able to return to their homes and businesses "very soon", he said.
"Please take care when travelling through the area and obey all road signage. There may be debris on the road, and surfaces may be slick.
"We're not fully back to normal. There is still risk. We have another heavy swell high tide from 9.45pm tonight to 1.45am tomorrow. We'll be keeping a watch on that swell and if you're near the south coast you should too."
The council advised everyone must stay away from the southern coastline, due to risks posed by the weather event - including the chance that screened wastewater being discharged out the Moa Point long outfall pipe was being pushed closer to the shore.
Public Health has advised sea spray settling on south coast properties, gardens or cars was not expected to be a significant health risk. People should wash and dry their hands regularly, especially before preparing or eating food, and after outdoor activities and limit contact with sea spray during this weather event, the council said.
The shared path linking Wellington to Petone has reopened, after closing earlier today due to the bad weather. The NZ Transport Agency said walkers and cyclists should take care while the strong winds persist.
Meanwhile, the highest wave recorded by MetService in Wellington Harbour today reached 11 metres.
The forecaster said waves were about the levels predicted and expected to keep getting higher into the early afternoon. Meteorologist Silvia Martino says the average height of large waves was about 6 metres. Maximum wave heights can be double these averages.
MetService had issued a heavy swell warning for Cape Terawhiti to Turakirae Head in Wellington, and Turakirae Head to Mataikona in Wairarapa.
Ferries not sailing, flights ok
Interislander and Bluebridge cancelled Cook Strait ferry sailings today, as did the Wellington to Eastbourne ferries.
Air New Zealand said it intended to operate all flights as scheduled - on the condition that they could safely arrive and land in Wellington and it was constantly monitoring the weather situation.
Plane tips over in strong winds
A Golden Bay Air plane tipped on its side at Wellington Airport this morning in a gust of wind.
Chief executive Richard Molloy said the plane won't be used again today.
"There's no damage as far as I know, but we still need to get it check before we go anywhere."
Anyone due to fly to Takaka today was being put on a flight to Nelson and shuttled over the Takaka Hill, he said.
