Cyclone Gabrielle has arrived, yet the worst wild weather is still to come.

It reached Northland first - thousands of people have lost power and many roads are flooded and unusable.

People located close to the rivers in the Whangārei CBD and Town Basin area are being urged to seek shelter before this afternoon's high tide.

Māni Dunlop heard the latest from the chair of the Northland emergency management group, and Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor of Te Kaunihera o Tai Tokerau ki te Raki - Far North District Council, Kelly Stratford