The low is expected to sink further south over the coming days.
Photo: Pexels

Hundreds have fled campsites in the Far North following fierce winds and warnings of even more severe weather in the days ahead.

Whangaruru Beachfront Camp and Motel owner Robynne Cooper said winds of “around 50 knots” on Monday saw tents starting to rip and awnings shred.

Bland Bay campsite manager Wayne Johnstone said after hearing weather warnings, many had decided to leave early before the weather deteriorated.

MetService is forecasting a subtropical low, which will bring heavy rain and severe northeasterly gales to parts of the upper North Island.

“A subtropical low over the Tasman Sea is expected to direct a strong and moist northeast flow over central and northern New Zealand on Wednesday and Thursday, with some areas likely to receive warning amounts of rain and possible severe gale northeasterlies,” it said on its website.

It is then expected to sink further south over the coming days.

In Northland, Cooper said only 15 of their 106 sites remain occupied, while Johnstone said in their campground, around 30 people out 400 remained.

“It’s been pretty tragic for the camping business,” Cooper said, with many of their departing guests having another two to three weeks remaining on their stay.

But she could understand why families had chosen to leave.

“Can you imagine sitting in a … locked in a caravan or tent or something with two, three, four young kiddies that can’t go out?”

Many of the tents would also be hugely expensive to replace.

Johnstone said there have also been several cancellations.

“People that were arriving this week have called in and said they won’t be coming up this year because of the weather.”

For those that remain at the campground, Cooper said they’ve squashed the sites closer together so they help shelter each other, and everything is tied down.

As of 8pm this evening, the current warnings issued by Metservice are:

• a strong wind watch for Northland from Wednesday 1am to Thursday 7am
• heavy rain watch for Auckland and Great Barrier from Wednesday 9am to Thursday 9am
• a strong wind watch for Auckland and Great Barrier. Timing as above.
• a heavy rain watch for the Coromandel Wednesday 9pm to Thursday 9pm
• a strong wind watch for Coromandel, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Taranaki and Taihape Wednesday 6pm to Thursday 6pm
• a heavy rain watch for Bay of Plenty Thursday 3am to Friday 6am
• and a heavy rain watch for Nelson likely midnight Thursday for 24 hours.

Summer Haze cancelled

Matakana’s Summer Haze concert, due to start on Wednesday,has been cancelled due to the stormy weather forecast.

The concert was to feature local stars Shapeshifter and Fat Freddy’s Drop, and Australian rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.

Organisers said they would give information shortly on ticket refunds.

They said they are cancelling the day-long festival because they cannot guarantee the safety of crew and attendees.