When hurricane Gabrielle hit northern New Zealand, approximately 46,000 homes suffered power outages.
As Gabrielle approaches the North Island, a state of emergency has been declared in some areas. Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty said at a media briefing Monday that the government is considering declaring a state of emergency for the third time in the country's history.
Five northern regions, including Auckland, have already declared a state of emergency. The declaration gives local authorities greater power to respond to dangerous situations, and allows them to restrict travel and provide assistance.
The hurricane is the second major weather event to hit Auckland and the North Island in just a couple of weeks.
Authorities say these two large events have stretched the emergency and recovery response system to its limits.
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