The number of people still uncontactable after Cyclone Gabrielle continues to fall and currently sits at 346, police say.

That’s a fall of more than 800 people on the previous update.

In the 24 hours to midday, police in Eastern District conducted more than 600 prevention activities, including reassurance patrols and proactive engagements with storm-hit communities.

Police said 19 people were arrested and charged with 32 offences. The arrests were in Gisborne (eight), Hastings (six), Napier (four) and Wairoa (1). Charges relate to shoplifting, assault and family harm, with three burglary charges.

An extra 145 police staff and the Eagle helicopter remain in the Eastern District, police say.

Meanwhile, a heavy rain watch has been issued by MetService for periods of heavy rain over the 48 hours from midday tomorrow to midday Saturday for areas of the North Island including the battered Hawke’s Bay.

Forecasters are keeping a close watch on any implications for New Zealand with them assessing a “high” risk of more cyclones developing in the tropics from the back half of next week. The short and longer-term predictions come as police continue to scramble to find hundreds of people still uncontactable following Gabrielle’s devastation.

MetService yesterday urged people to watch coming forecasts, with heavy falls possible about hard-hit Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay on Friday and Saturday. Some long-range models the forecaster relied on to make predictions showed a risk of heavy rain for the east coast of the North Island, with about 50mm of rainfall possible this Friday and Saturday. “Other [models] are more pessimistic,” MetService said - with over 100mm possible for the central Hawke’s Bay shown in one model.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty, but it’s not good news,” MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said. “Any rain certainly won’t help,” Bakker said, given the areas which could potentially be hit include cyclone-ravaged Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne.

 ‘High’ risk of new cyclones developing in tropics

Forecasters have assessed a “high” risk of more cyclones developing in the tropics from the back half of next week – but that doesn’t mean New Zealand is in for a third unwelcome visit.

“While Cyclone Gabrielle has now dissipated completely, we must remember that we are still in the middle of the South Pacific Oceans’ tropical cyclone season,” MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said.

Historically, late February and early March marked the height of our November-to-April cyclone season. In a given week around this peak period, chances of a cyclone being present in the southwest Pacific was typically at least 50 per cent.

For the rest of this week, however, the tropical area to the north of New Zealand looked to remain quiet. “We have assessed a ‘very low risk’ of any cyclone development for this week and weekend, this is the lowest risk available,” Ferris said. “The first few days of next week remain the same, but the risk of cyclone development does increase in the second half of next week.”

MetService had assessed risk from that point – or from March 1 – as high, with chances greater than 50 per cent. “Tropical cyclone development always happens very far away from New Zealand, so even if we do see a tropical cyclone develop next week that does not mean it will affect Aotearoa,” Ferris said. “Most tropical cyclones never impact our weather, but every storm follows a unique path, and some get close enough to have a say.” See the full story here

PM vows to ‘do whatever it takes’ to recover

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said this would be a tough year ahead for many but vowed to “do whatever it takes to recover”.

“We will get through this,” he said as he paid tribute to the lives lost to Cyclone Gabrielle, their grieving families and those who remained missing. To those who have lost loved ones, New Zealand is grieving,” he said.

Aerial photographs show the extent of damage caused by a landslip at Muriwai. Photo / George Heard

He spoke specifically of the two volunteer firefighters who had died in Muriwai.

Hipkins also said there needed to be much stronger action on climate change.

“Business as usual won’t work any more... Billions of dollars are going to be required not just to repair but become more resilient.”

‘Family man’ firefighter remembered today

The funeral for local volunteer firefighter and veterinarian Dave van Zwanenberg is being held today.

Volunteer firefighter and veterinarian Dave van Zwanenberg died helping evacuate residents in Muriwai along with fellow firefighter Craig Stevens.

He was remembered for his good humour, his authentic care, his astronomic intelligence and supreme competence at anything he turned his hand to.

Muriwai Volunteer firefighter Dave van Zwanenberg died in a landslide while helping at a damaged house in Muriwai during Cyclone Gabrielle on February 13. Photo / File

Widow Amy van Zwanenberg said her family was utterly devastated by the sudden loss of her extraordinary husband.

“First and foremost, a family man, Dave was dedicated to spending quality time with his children and building a life to nurture their growth, van Zwanenberg said.

“Reliability and dependability were his core values, whatever the weather,” she said.

11 people confirmed dead

The death toll remained 11 and police were especially worried about 10 people who have yet to be located.

About 2000 people remained without power across Auckland, the city’s emergency management group said. Thousands more across the North Island also waited for electricity to be reconnected.

In Napier, leaking raw sewage forced evacuations away from the Awatoto Public Golf Course while Fire and Emergency’s Hazmat Command Unit responded to the incident.

Queues at the 4 Square guarded by police on February 16. Photo / George Heard

In Auckland, sewage began seeping from a manhole damaged by a slip in St Heliers, raising the risk of swimming at two popular beaches at St Heliers and Kohimarama.

Land in the city’s west coast settlements remained unstable and Auckland Emergency Management said it could be months before residents were allowed back to their homes there.

Police stop traffic at a roadblock on Waitea Road, Muriwai Beach. Roads to Auckland's west coast beaches have been closed to the public after slips and damage from Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

An extra 145 officers were sent to the eastern police district, bringing numbers to 500, including specialist Search and Rescue units and the Eagle helicopter.

“Crime levels in the district are currently within the normal range,” a police statement said.