Gita stops NZ flights

AIR New Zealand yesterday cancelled all flights in and out of New Zealand’s capital Wellington, as the remnants of tropical cyclone Gita pummelled the country.

The national carrier said all flights to the capital would be grounded from 2.45pm local time as weather authorities issued warnings of severe weather and heavy rain and gusts of up to 150km/h.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the military had been deployed to areas likely to be worst hit and the national Civil Defence office in Wellington was on standby to help local authorities.