Flooding in Auckland has dealt a heavy blow to businesses that are already struggling under alert level 4.
Kumeu, in west Auckland, has seen the second-wettest day on record and a heavy rain warning is in place across Northland until midnight on Thursday.
The main road of Kumeu and the businesses that operate there were completely underwater earlier on Tuesday.
Building owner Akhtar Dhamji says there's been plenty of damage in the township.
"There's a lot of damage to Signature Homes and takeaways and fruit and organic shops and the butcher shop at the back."
Nearby at arborists Treescape, the yard was completely unrecognisable.
"I couldn't believe my eyes. It's a bit of a shock," says Treescape business manager Bryson Middleton.
He is allowed to send his crews out during alert level 4, but it'll take days before the trucks can hit the road again.
"It's a bit of a major disaster for us, I'm afraid," he says.
That sentiment isn't lost on Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, who was quick to visit emergency teams coordinating the response.
"It's going to cost some money but it's the disruption to people's lives already disrupted under alert level 4 that I'm most worried about," he says.
The rain continued for much of the day and the torrents came with it. At 3pm, the water in some areas had hardly receded.
Army Unimogs were called in to assist people that were cut off - but even they couldn't make it through the water.
Water on one suburban street was still so deep earlier on Tuesday that the Police maritime boat had to come up from Auckland to do welfare checks.
As the floodwaters slowly subside, the next few days will be about the clean up - Insurer IAG has already received more than 300 claims.
