More supermarkets forced to close due to Cyclone Gabrielle
Tuesday, 14 February 2023
More supermarkets have had to close due to the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Countdown Carlyle, Countdown Napier, Countdown Cambridge, Countdown Gisborne, Countdown Whitianga and Countdown Tikipunga, Countdown Spotswood (New Plymouth) and Countdown Hastings, were all closed on Tuesday.
“The weather across the North Island has impacted a number of our stores and some have been unable to open this morning. We are working as hard as we can to open as soon as it’s safe to do so,” a Countdown spokesperson said.
“There may also be impacts to our online deliveries and pick-ups today, and we’ll be in touch with customers directly if their order is affected.”
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There was also potential for further disruption to its store network and it would continue to update its website with its store hours.
”We’re also checking in with all of our team at the moment, and it looks like we may be a little light on the ground today as some of them need to stay home due to road closures and other weather impacts.”
A Foodstuffs spokesperson advised Pak ‘n Save, New World and Four Square customers to follow local Civil Defense advisements before trying to go to the supermarket.
Each individual store would update customers via its Facebook page.
Foodstuffs would have further updates on store closures on Tuesday morning.
Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle in Auckland’s city centre had not been as severe as other places.
“Unsurprisingly there’s a lot less people around. There are businesses open today and with a cruise ship in port until tonight there will be visitors about that we hope will support those who are open.
“It was good to hear that a number of retailers who were trading yesterday were kept busy with cruise passengers.”
All TSB branches in affected areas were closed on Tuesday, including in Auckland and Taranaki.
In an email to customers, TSB spokesperson Sean Edwards said ATMs would be operating, and its customer engagement centre would also be available to help.
He expected all branches to be open tomorrow.
Harvey Norman had also closed its stores in Gisborne, Napier and Hastings and all online deliveries in the North Island would be delayed.
A number of florists were also forced to delay their Valentine’s Day deliveries until Wednesday.
Best Blooms in Auckland was only able to deliver to western suburbs on Valentine’s Day, while the rest of Auckland would get their flowers tomorrow. They were still able to offer click and collect.
Flowers after Hours in Auckland’s Parnell told Stuff Valentine’s Day was “the make or break of a successful year”, and had been asking customers if they could accept their Valentine’s Day delivery a day early.
Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford said the situation for retailers remained much the same as Monday.
“Some areas are flooded, but outside directly flooded areas, retailers are doing their best to continue providing services to customers, and some customers are out and about.
“However, some stores are closing early, and some are unable to open, mainly because of power or staffing issues.”