Huge 10m swells batter NZ coasts as Metservice warns biggest waves still to come

A severe weather system began hitting the southern coast of the North Island and eastern coast of the country overnight with waves reaching close to a whopping 10 metres - and Met Service reports bigger swells are yet to come. 

In an update this morning the forecaster confirmed “significant wave heights” reaching 6m had been recorded overnight.

At their maximum height, an 8.5m wave had been recorded at Baring Head, Wellington (the southern tip of the North Island) and a 9.9m wave was recorded at Steep Head in Canterbury.

"Waves are forecast to rise rapidly during Tuesday morning and early afternoon along the east coasts of the North and South Islands, and at the Chatham Islands, while the southwesterly swell and wind direction mean the largest waves will be offshore,” Met Service reports.

“Places exposed to the southwest will see the most hazardous coastal conditions."

Wellington Region Emergency Management Office has also warned the most dangerous window will be the 1-2 hours either side of high tide, roughly 11.30am - 12.30pm for most areas.

Meanwhile, a local state of emergency remains for Wellington's southern and eastern wards after Mayor Andrew Little put it in place yesterday.

According to RNZ, residents in mandatory evacuation zones, including Ōwhiro Bay and Breaker Bay (excluding Lyall Bay), were told to leave by 9am this morning, with emergency services warning they will not enter evacuated areas.

"If you have not left the evacuation zones, you do so at your own risk. Emergency services will not be sent out to evacuated areas," Wellington Region Emergency Management Office said.

Coastal roads remain closed, and Wellington’s shared footpath and cycleway linking the capital with the Hutt Valley has also been shut due to large waves.

Heavy Swell Warnings are currently in place for the lower North Island’s east and south-west coasts, including Wairarapa (Turakirae Head to Mataikona) and Wellington (Cape Terawhiti to Turakirae Head), from Tuesday, June 9 until 9am, Wednesday, June 10.