Kuala Lampur, April 11 --  

WELLINGTON, April 11 -New Zealand's national weather service warned today prepare for damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding in what it described as a potentially "life-threatening" event, as cyclone Vaianu approaches the country's North Island.

The tropical cyclone is forecast to make landfall tomorrrow, with residents living in coastal areas-prone to heavy rain, rising seawater and strong winds of up to 130 kilometers-being asked to evacuate as a precaution.

Winds in excess of 100kmh had already been recorded Saturday, New Zealand's official forecaster MetService said in a statement on their website.

"The combination of damaging winds, heavy rain and coastal inundation makes this a multi-hazard, pot...