Cyclone Gabrielle is heading our way and could make a miserable couple of weeks even worse, should it bring the intense rain and strong winds that are forecast.

It'll be a nervous wait for North Islanders - the cyclone is due to hit Northland first on Sunday - then move south through Auckland and the rest of the North Island.

States of emergency in Thames-Coromandel and in Auckland have been extended; Air New Zealand is urging people not to fly unless it's urgent. 

Emergency Management minister Kieran McAnulty spoke to Max Towle.