Insurance claims totalled $35.6 million.

States of Emergency were declared in the Nelson Tasman region, Taranaki region, Selwyn district, Grey district, Buller district, Westland district, and Christchurch city.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:43 pm Monday 19-Feb-2018. Cyclone Gita to bring damaging winds and heavy rain to central New Zealand on Tuesday and early Wednesday. Cyclone Gita, currently located over the Tasman Sea, is forecast to track southeastwards and cross central New Zealand late Tuesday and early Wednesday. The passage of Gita is expected to bring a period of high-impact severe weather to central New Zealand. Heavy rain will cause slips, rapidly rising streams and rivers, and flooding. Severe gales with damaging gusts are expected, so people are advised to secure property and items that may be blown away by strong winds.There is also the potential for coastal inundation with high tide overnight Tuesday and before dawn on Wednesday, due to the combination of tides, low air-pressure, strong onshore winds and large waves in excess of 6 metres in some places. For the North Island, coastal areas from Raglan southwards to southern Wairarapa are most at risk. For the South Island, the risk of coastal inundation is greatest for areas from Buller and North Canterbury northwards.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 10:08 pm Tuesday 20-Feb-2018. Severe gales and heavy rain across central New Zealand should ease Wednesday as Cyclone Gita departs. Cyclone Gita is forecast to track southeastwards across the upper South Island tonight (Tuesday), then to move away to the southeast on Wednesday. The high-impact severe weather across central New Zealand should then ease as Gita moves away on Wednesday. Further heavy rain is expected about the Kaikoura Coast, Canterbury, and eastern Otago, then should ease during Wednesday. Severe gales with damaging gusts in exposed parts of central New Zealand should also ease during Wednesday. People are advised to secure property and items that may be blown away by strong winds. There is also the potential for coastal inundation with high tide overnight Tuesday and before dawn on Wednesday, due to the combination of tides, low air-pressure, strong onshore winds and large waves in excess of 6 metres in some places. For the North Island, coastal areas in the west from Raglan southwards Wellington and across to southern Wairarapa are most at risk. For the South Island, the risk of coastal inundation is greatest for areas from Buller and North Canterbury northwards.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:33 am Wednesday 21-Feb-2018. Heavy rain about Dunedin and North Otago should ease late afternoon. Brief heavy rain possible overnight about Marlborough, Wellington, Kapiti, Horowhenua and western Wairarapa. Cyclone Gita is about 250km east of Canterbury and should continue to move away from the country. Heavy rain associated with Gita is expected to continue in Dunedin and North Otago until late afternoon. A southerly change is expected to move through Cook Strait tonight and may be accompanied by thunderstorms bringing a period of very heavy rain to northern Marlborough, Wellington, Kapiti, Horowhenua and western Wairarapa. Although rainfall accumulations expected would not normally be enough to justify a warning, the recent rain associated with Gita has made these areas more susceptible to damage. The heavy rain about the Kaikoura Coast, Canterbury and Westland ranges has eased and the warnings for these areas have been lifted. All wind warnings associated with Gita are now lifted.

There was localised flooding in Motueka, Takaka and Marahau, and significant flooding in the Riwaka Plains.

There were hundreds of evacuated residents across the Tasman and Nelson region. Welfare centres operated in Motueka, Takaka, Marahau, Collingwood, and in Nelson at the Salvation Army Hall.

Areas between Kina and Takaka, including Kaiteriteri, had powercuts.

The Kaiteriteri pumping station lost its electrical supply, so local people were told to conserve water.

The NZ Transport Agency closed State Highway 1 north and south of Kaikōura on 20th February due to heavy rain and to prevent motorists being stranded on the highway in the event of large waves later in the day. Ex-Cyclone Gita brought down 300,000 cubic metres of debris over the road at 60 sites. It remained closed for about a fortnight.

Route 70, known as the inland road, between Kaikōura and Waiau, was closed shortly before 9pm on 20th February as heavy rainfall caused flooding across the district.

Some flights in and out of Christchurch Airport were cancelled.

Some roads were closed because of flooding, including Clarendon Tce, from Opawa Rd to Marshall Rd.

Some residents living alongside Christchurch's Heathcote River evacuated their homes as the waterway threatened to burst its banks.

Almost 200 tourists spent the night in their vehicles or in welfare centres.

State Highway 73 near Kumara Junction was closed.

Westport Harbour was closed.

The roofs of a number of houses in Whataroa were ripped off, and trees were damaged by the strong winds.

Six homes in the Paraparaumu region were evacuated as the combination of heavy rain and high tides caused flooding in low lying areas on 22nd February. There was also widespread flooding in the Paraparaumu Beach/Raumati North area.

State Highway 1 was closed north of Wellington between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay on 21st February at about 12:30am, due to damage to the road caused by the high tide washing across both lanes. One lane was opened about 7am that morning.