Chaos Up North: Gales Lash Regions, Down Trees, Cut Power, and Disrupt Festival Season
By Lions Roar News National Weather Desk
AUCKLAND / NORTHLAND, NEW ZEALAND (December 29, 2025) – Severe gales have ripped through New Zealand’s upper North Island overnight and into Sunday, bringing down trees, causing widespread power outages, and turning the start of the summer festival season into a muddy, chaotic affair. MetService issued a slew of severe weather warnings, which proved accurate as emergency services grappled with the fallout.
Thousands are without power, major roads are blocked, and several highly anticipated events have been forced to cancel or significantly alter their plans, leaving attendees drenched and disappointed.
🌬️ The Gale Force Impact: A Night of Fury
The worst of the weather struck between 11 PM Saturday and 8 AM Sunday, with MetService recording gusts exceeding 120 km/h in exposed areas of Northland and Auckland.
Key Impacts Reported:
- Widespread Power Outages: Vector and Top Energy reported thousands of households affected. Power lines brought down by falling trees caused the most significant disruptions, particularly in rural Northland and west Auckland suburbs. Restoration efforts are underway but complicated by ongoing high winds.
- Trees Down & Road Closures: Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) received over 150 calls for assistance related to fallen trees blocking roads and damaging property. State Highway 1 north of Whangārei was temporarily closed, causing significant traffic delays.
- Muddy Festival Starts: Early arrivals for major New Year’s festivals, including Rhythm & Vines in Gisborne and Northern Bass in Mangawhai, were met with torrential rain and gale-force winds that turned campsites into quagmires. Organisers scrambled to secure infrastructure.
- Event Cancellations: Several smaller community events, particularly outdoor markets and sporting fixtures planned for Sunday, were preemptively cancelled due to safety concerns.
“It was a wild night. We had gusts that felt like they could lift the roof off,” said a resident of West Auckland. “Woke up to no power and a tree across the driveway.”
🎪 Festival Season Disruption: A Soggy Start
For many, the gales have put a dampener on the festive season build-up.
- Northern Bass (Mangawhai): Despite the challenging conditions, Northern Bass organisers confirmed the festival would proceed, urging attendees to prepare for extremely muddy conditions and secure their tents properly. Access roads experienced significant delays.
- Rhythm & Vines (Gisborne): While Gisborne avoided the worst of the gales, heavy rain squalls made for a muddy setup. Organisers issued warnings about securing tents and advised attendees to pack extra wet weather gear.
- Beach Hop (Whangamatā): Some preparatory events for the popular Beach Hop were scaled back or moved indoors, as the threat of high winds and rain made outdoor gatherings unsafe.
🌤️ The Forecast: A Glimmer of Hope
MetService indicates that the worst of the gales are now passing. The strong wind warning for Auckland and Northland was lifted by Sunday afternoon, with winds expected to ease gradually overnight. However, isolated showers may persist, and the ground remains saturated, posing ongoing risks of slips and further tree falls.
Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant, exercise caution on roads, and check with local providers for power restoration updates. Festival-goers are advised to monitor official event channels for the latest information.
