Emergency Management Minister, Mark Mitchell, says Cyclone Vaianu could've been much worse - and Kiwis prepared well. 

Gisborne and some other East Coast communities are still cut off with sections of State Highways 2 and 35 closed, due to fallen trees, flooding and slips. 

The last of MetService's strong wind warnings and watches for Wairarapa and the Tararua District are set to ease at 7 this morning.

Mark Mitchell told Ryan Bridge several thousand houses were evacuated across the North Island.

He says some of them have flooded, but a lot were precautionary evacuations - which was the right thing to do.

Emergency Management Minister, Mark Mitchell, says Cyclone Vaianu could've been much worse - and Kiwis prepared well.&nbsp;
Gisborne and some other East Coast communities are still cut off with sections of State Highways 2 and 35 closed, due to fallen trees, flooding and slips.&nbsp;
The last of MetService's strong wind warnings and watches for Wairarapa and the Tararua District are set to ease at 7 this morning.
Mark Mitchell told Ryan Bridge several thousand houses were evacuated across the North Island.
He says some of them have flooded, but a lot were precautionary evacuations - which was the right thing to do.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Mark Mitchell: Emergency Management Minister on Cyclone Vaianu

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a0eb0d4c-37c5-47ab-bbb2-b42a012e2def/transcript