Eye of the Storm: Veteran Chaser Matthew Davison Captures Cyclone Vaianu’s Fury

While the Bay of Plenty faced evacuations, storm chaser Matthew Davison headed into the eye of Cyclone Vaianu. Discover the risks, gear, and warnings from authorities.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 3:14 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Chasing the Red Warning

Davison’s decision to head toward Whakatāne was based on advanced weather models that suggested the Bay of Plenty would see more severe wind gusts than the Coromandel, which was the initial focus of MetService red warnings. By the time he arrived, the region was under its own red warning, and the impacts were beginning to manifest:

Infrastructure: Over 3,000 homes in the central North Island lost power.

Isolation: Gisborne was cut off as State Highways 2 and 35 were shuttered.

Evacuations: Low-lying areas in the Bay of Plenty faced mandatory evacuation orders as the brunt of the storm hit on Sunday.

Safety and Preparation