Live: Waves up to 11 metres hit Wellington's coast, residents evacuate

27 minutes ago

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Hundreds of seafront residents were told to evacuate, a plane blew over at Wellington airport and a waterfront pathway was closed on Tuesday as the capital faced 11-metre high waves.

A state of emergency was in place for Wellington's southern and eastern wards as huge swells were forecast for Wellington and Wairapa.

Wellington Region Emergency Management Office issued a mandatory evacuation order for waterfront properties in Ōwhiro Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay and Breaker Bay.

People who hadn't left the evacuation zones did so at their own risk, the office said. "Emergency services will not be sent out to evacuated areas," the office said.

Interislander and Bluebridge cancelled Cook Strait ferry sailings and some flights out of Wellington were affected.

Most Wellington south coast roads were closed, and an RNZ reporter said police picked up some people walking along the waterfront, while encouraging others to leave. The Te Ara Tupua walking path and cycleway along Wellington harbour was closed.

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