Cyclone Gita live updates: Strong winds and heavy rain batter New Zealand

Seven provinces of New Zealand are in a state of emergency as the remnants of Cyclone Gita bear down, bringing howling winds and torrential rain.

Here's what we know:

• State of emergency declared in Christchurch, Buller District, Grey District, Selwyn, Westland, Tasman and Taranaki
• Civil Defence staff have been pre-deployed to the areas that will be worst affected
• More than 40 tourists were trapped in buses in Whataroa overnight, two hours south of Greymouth
• More than fifty schools and daycare centres closed on Tuesday with some expected to close on Wednesday too
• Flights and trains have been cancelled, and SH1 north of Kaikoura is closed
• State Highway 6 has been closed from Westport to Greymouth and from Hokitika to Franz Josef Glacier
• State Highway 60 has been closed from Riwaka to Tākaka
• Riwaka residents have been evacuated as the river is near to bursting its banks

Click for live updates at Newshub.co.nz