Leader of the Opposition and Bay of Plenty MP /u/Fresh3001 today addressed a crowd of supporters and local residents in Tauranga following the announcement of a voluntary evacuation warning across the region by the Minister of Internal Affairs.

“Tauranga is a great city, filled with great people, that together have a great sense of community - and, in fact, that goes for the whole of the Bay of Plenty. That great sense of community, that willingness to do what is right and to help others is exactly what is needed right now in the face of a potential disaster. As most here would know, a voluntary evacuation warning has been issued across the Bay of Plenty, for all residents within 2km of the coast. I urge that every one of you within that zone make your way to safety, away from the city and the areas which will be worst hit. Some of you may have friends or family living in the Kaimai Ranges or beyond; I urge you to make arrangements to stay with them and get off the coast.

“Cyclone Ella may not hit the Bay of Plenty as hard as it will hit Northland or Auckland, but it will certainly have an impact here. So please, it may be our home, but stubborn thinking should not prevail. Get out of Tauranga, or Coromandel, or Whangamata or Whakatane - anywhere that you may have trouble escaping when the cyclone hits. Make your way to safety, and weather the storm. If you choose to stay, sandbag up the entrances to your homes, secure your windows, and invest in supplies for the days after - I will be around Tauranga for the next day coordinating with local community groups to do just that. While it pains me to do so, after that I must leave my home and return to Wellington to offer my support to the government in this troubled time. But I promise I will be back when the storm is over, and will be doing everything I can to help my constituents in this great region.”