New Zealand: After Cyclone Vaianu, the focus shifts to cleanup and the return of residents.

New Zealand began cleanup operations on the North Island on Monday, following Cyclone Vaianu, which caused significant disruption but no casualties. Residents evacuated before the storm's arrival were gradually allowed to return to their homes.

On the ground, response teams are working to clear roads, remove fallen trees, and inspect at-risk areas for potential landslides. Several roads remain closed, however, while power companies continue to report outages in some areas.

In Whakatane, one of the hardest-hit areas, acting mayor Julie Jukes described it as "the worst weather" she had ever experienced. She emphasized, however, that the most important thing was the absence of loss of life, despite significant property damage and disruption.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon praised the effectiveness of the emergency response, believing that the population had been well prepared and that the authorities' response had been more effective than in previous disasters.

According to the national weather service MetService, the cyclone has now moved eastward from the North Island. Only warnings related to high ocean swells remained in effect Monday morning along the southern coasts.

While the situation is improving, authorities are urging caution in areas still affected, as recovery operations continue to restore essential infrastructure and services.