meteorological

"A multi-day period of damaging winds and heavy rainfall have begun and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides," the meteorological agency urged residents.

The winds are affecting the whole of the South Island and the southern parts of the North Island, according to the country's meteorological service.

Once a meteorological agency takes the decision to name a storm, there is agreement that all nations use the same name to allow consistency and clearer communication of the impacts.

Benjamin is second on the list of names in the south-western Europe meteorological group consisting of Portugal, Spain, Luxembourg, France and Belgium.

Looking out the window also can give a lot of meteorological information.