Roger Ball: NEMA Director of Emergency Management provides an update on Cyclone Gabrielle

Officials are considering declaring a national state of emergency -- as Cyclone Gabrielle continues to cause severe weather across the North Island and upper South. In Auckland, a volunteer firefighter is missing and another is in a critical condition in hospital, after an early morning emergency evacuation in Muriwai. In Northland, homes have been evacuated in low-lying parts of Dargaville, following evacuations in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Gisborne and Hastings. Hawke's Bay is now in a state of emergency, alongside the entire Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne regions. Director of Emergency Management Roger Ball told Mike Hosking the next step is deciding whether a national declaration is needed. There are widespread power outages and road closures across the North Island, with a number of communities cut off. People in affected regions are asked to stay home, avoid travelling, and only call 111 if life and safety is at risk. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.