Southland braces for more wild weather as ex-tropical cyclone Uesi approaches

Ex-tropical cyclone Uesi is due to reach the west of the South Island this afternoon, bringing further pain to flood-hit Southland. Here’s what you need to know. Ex-tropical, you say. What on earth does that mean?  A tropical cyclone, which is a low-pressure system that forms over warm waters in the tropics, bringing gale force … Read more

Cheat sheet: World Cup games cancelled as super typhoon looms over Japan

The organisers of the Rugby World Cup have made the unprecedented decision to cancel two of the final pool games, citing safety concerns as a super typhoon threatens Japan.   What’s this? Rugby CANCELLED? In my day we walked six miles barefoot in the snow to play rugby. The goal posts were made from old … Read more

The Bulletin: Cyclone season starts early in the Pacific

Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Cyclone season starts early in South Pacific, more political connections for Derek Handley revealed, and major hoki fishery declared “barren wasteland.” Cyclone season has started early in the South Pacific, which could be a worrying sign for what the summer will bring. Cyclone Liua has developed from … Read more

Letter from Viti Levu: One year on, Cyclone Winston is still battering communities

A year ago this week, the strongest cyclone in recorded history to make landfall in the South Pacific Basin hit Fiji. Unicef NZ’s Lachlan Forsyth travelled to the tiny village of Rakiraki to see how a devastated community is slowly rebuilding. It’s a modest collection of buildings. A couple of classrooms, some homes for the … Read more