Cyclone Wati leaves Aitutaki harbour causeway underwater

Arutanga Harbour and Marina partially destroyed; storm now heading for other Cook Islands

By LineZotpaper

Published19 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Tropical Cyclone Wati has partially destroyed Aitutaki's main port, leaving the newly upgraded Arutanga Harbour and Marina causeway underwater as the Category 2 storm moves through the Southern Cook Islands. No injuries had been reported by Monday afternoon.

Tropical Cyclone Wati has swept through the Southern Cook Islands, partially destroying Aitutaki's primary port. Mayor Nick Henry told RNZ Pacific the new Arutanga Harbour and Marina causeway, which has seen more than $7 million in strengthening and upgrade work, was found underwater within the past few hours.

"A lot of the work that we've done there in the last couple of years, we'll have to see how much of that is still intact," Henry said. "I think we'll have to re-dredge, we'll probably find half the causeway has gone back into the basin again."

The Cook Islands Investment Corporation describes the harbour as "Aitutaki's vital lifeline to the supply of food, fuel and other necessities that are delivered by sea."

Henry said the funding allocated for the project at the time did not cover the cost of steel sheet piling, which could have lessened the likelihood that it would be destroyed by a cyclone. "We've already asked for some assistance from Rarotonga ... most of us are already ready to get back and start tidying up the place," he said. "But it is important to make sure that we document the damage that's been done before we tidy it."

The Cook Islands Meteorological Office had forecast storm force winds of 54 to 76 knots (100 to 141 km/h), with heavy swells and a high probability of coastal inundation.

One witness, Alastair, said waves crashing onto the reef on the island's north-western coast reached "two stories high" as debris swept the streets and beaches. "It was stronger about an hour ago, now it's certainly built up again ... The waves are crashing into the sea and there are bits of rubbish everywhere," he said.

Henry said damage was minimal outside the marina, with minor damage to boats and some properties this morning. The storm has now passed Aitutaki and is tracking towards other Pa Enua (outer islands), with winds turning to a bitter southerly.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Aitutaki's harbour is the island's lifeline for food, fuel and essential supplies; its partial destruction could disrupt deliveries for weeks or months.
The damage raises questions about whether Pacific infrastructure investment is keeping pace with cyclone risk.
Wati continues towards other outer islands, so further damage may follow.

Background

Aitutaki is one of the Southern Cook Islands, a small island group in the South Pacific. Its harbour serves as the main gateway for food, fuel and other necessities, making the island heavily dependent on the port for its supply chain. The causeway had recently been the focus of a multi-million-dollar strengthening project. Severe tropical cyclones are a recurring hazard across the Pacific, and small island states are considered among the most exposed to storm damage.

Key Perspectives

Mayor Nick Henry and Aitutaki residents: Prioritising a full damage assessment before clean-up, while seeking assistance from Rarotonga. Henry's comments suggest concern that earlier cost constraints left the causeway vulnerable.

Cook Islands authorities: The Meteorological Office had warned of storm force winds, heavy swells and coastal inundation, and residents had been urged to prepare in the days before the storm arrived.

Infrastructure planners and climate observers: The damage to a recently upgraded harbour highlights the gap between available funding and the cost of cyclone-resilient construction, such as steel sheet piling, which the mayor said was not covered by the project budget.

What to Watch

The full damage assessment and whether part of the causeway must be re-dredged or rebuilt.
Whether assistance from Rarotonga arrives quickly enough to restore the harbour's role as a supply lifeline.
Wati's path towards the other Pa Enua islands and reports of damage or injuries there.

Sources

Aitutaki marina causeway 'underwater', harbour damaged as Cyclone Wati sweeps south · RNZ New Zealand Headlines

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedCyclone Wati leaves Aitutaki harbour causeway underwaterRNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Aitutaki's primary port has been partially destroyed as Tropical Cyclone Wati sweeps through the Southern Cook Islands. Mayor Nick Henry said the new Arutanga Harbour and Marina causeway... was found underwater in the last few hours.”
SupportedArutanga Harbour and Marina partially destroyedRNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Aitutaki's primary port has been partially destroyed as Tropical Cyclone Wati sweeps through the Southern Cook Islands.”
Supportedstorm now heading for other Cook IslandsRNZ New Zealand Headlines: “The storm has now passed Aitutaki on track towards other Pa Enua (outer islands)”
SupportedTropical Cyclone Wati has partially destroyed Aitutaki's main portRNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Aitutaki's primary port has been partially destroyed as Tropical Cyclone Wati sweeps through the Southern Cook Islands.”
SupportedNo injuries had been reported by Monday afternoonRNZ New Zealand Headlines: “as of 2.30pm local time, there had been no reported injuries.”
SupportedMayor Nick Henry told RNZ Pacific the new Arutanga Harbour and Marina causeway, which has seen more than $7 million in strengthening and upgrade work, was found underwater within the past few hoursRNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Mayor Nick Henry said the new Arutanga Harbour and Marina causeway, which has seen more than $7 million in investment for strengtheniing and upgrades, was found underwater in the last few hours.”
Supported"A lot of the work that we've done there in the last couple of years, we'll have to see how much of that is still intact," Henry saidRNZ New Zealand Headlines: “"A lot of the work that we've done there in the last couple of years, we'll have to see how much of that is still in tact," Henry told RNZ Pacific.”
Supported"I think we'll have to re-dredge, we'll probably find half the causeway has gone back into the basin again."RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “"I think we'll have to re-dredge, we'll probably find half the causeway has gone back into the basin again."”
SupportedThe Cook Islands Investment Corporation describes the harbour as "Aitutaki's vital lifeline to the supply of food, fuel and other necessities that are delivered by sea."RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “According to the Cook Islands Investment Corporation , the harbour is "Aitutaki's vital lifeline to the supply of food, fuel and other necessities that are delivered by sea".”
SupportedHenry said the funding allocated for the project at the time did not cover the cost of steel sheet piling, which could have lessened the likelihood that it would be destroyed by a cycloneRNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Henry said that the funding allocated for the project at the time did not cover the costs of steel sheet filing, which could have lessened the likelihood that it would be destroyed by a cyclone.”
SupportedThe Cook Islands Meteorological Office had forecast storm force winds of 54 to 76 knots (100 to 141 km/h), with heavy swells and a high probability of coastal inundationRNZ New Zealand Headlines: “The Cook Islands Meterological Office said this morning that the island would likely experience heavy and swells, and that coastal inundation was a high probability. It had forecast storm force winds of 54 to 76 knots (100 to 141 km/h).”
SupportedOne witness, Alastair, said waves crashing onto the reef on the island's north-western coast reached "two stories high" as debris swept the streets and beachesRNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Alastair said he watched waves smash onto the reef on the north-western coast that reached "two stories high", as debris swept the streets and beaches.”