Lusi batters Auckland beaches 

EMERGENCY services are warning people to stay away from Auckland's northern beaches where homes are threatened as high tide peaks and ex-Cyclone Lusi causes havoc.

Lusi hit Northland on Friday night, unleashing 91mm of rain near Whangarei over 27 hours and wind gusts of 139km/h at Cape Reinga.
A storm surge damaged a restaurant on Paihia's wharf and a seawall, several boats came ashore, Marsden Point was closed to all shipping and roofing iron lifted on a building in Mangawhai.
On Saturday, Auckland became the target.

Localised power outages, surface flooding and landslips occurred across New Zealand's largest city. Three boats broke from moorings and ferry services were disrupted.
One ship heading to Ports of Auckland was diverted to shelter off the Coromandel Peninsula.
Auckland Council Civil Defence controller Clive Manley says weather conditions will deteriorate and coastal erosion will be a problem from 4pm to 10pm on Saturday at Snells Beach, Waiwera, Orewa, Milford, Cheltenham and Whangateau.
High tide is expected at 8pm.
"It's best to keep away from beaches," he said.
Civil Defence is preparing to evacuate as many as 50 houses in Milford, Cheltenham, Orewa, Whangateau, and Wairewa, Radio New Zealand reports.
Power company Vector is providing frequent updates on power outages to thousands of customers across Auckland.
Wind gusts off 122km/h brought trees down in the city and heavy rainfall fell in northern Auckland, the Waitakere Ranges, Hunua Ranges and south Auckland.
The storm is expected to pass over the South Island on Sunday.
Apple growers in Nelson are bracing for damage while residents of low-lying suburbs in Christchurch who have experienced two recent flooding events on top of earthquake damage are preparing for more woe.
Several events around the country, including Auckland's Polyfest, have been postponed or cancelled but thousands turned out to hear Tim Finn open the Womad music festival in New Plymouth with a moving ode to Parihaka and some Split Enz classics.
Lusi killed three people as it passed over Vanuatu.
 

source-www.news.com