Authorities in Auckland are beginning to mop up after torrential rain caused widespread flooding across Tāmaki Makaurau on Friday.
Four people have died due to the floods. A state of emergency remains in place.
What you need to know:
- Four people have died in the flooding in Auckland
- A state of emergency is in place in Auckland and the Waitomo Districts
- Auckland Emergency Management sent an alert to Aucklanders' phones on Sunday night ahead of potential heavy rain
- Nineteen Auckland homes have been red-stickered - deemed uninhabitable - so far
- Seven hundred homes remain without power
- Auckland Airport has now reopened for both domestic and international flights
- Authorities are urging people to only call 111 if lives are in danger
- Here is a list of road closures across Auckland.
Civil Defence centres
West: St Leonards Rd School, 15 Saint Leonards Rd, Kelston
North: Massey University Albany Campus, Sir Neil Walters Lecture Theatre, Massey University East Precinct, Albany Expressway SH17
South: Mana Tukutuku, 32 Riverton Dr, Randwick Park
For more information visit here.
These live updates are now over.
9:00pm - Auckland Council says response efforts have been ongoing to clean up and assess the impacts of Friday's storm.
Hundreds of staff and contractors have been on the ground to assist Auckland Emergency Management, emergency services and those hit hard by the impacts of intense rain.
"This has been a significant event and the impacts have been felt throughout our entire region, and it's not over yet. Our dedicated teams have swung into action swiftly to help Aucklanders most impacted," Auckland Council CEO Jim Stabback said in a statement.
Seventy-two building inspectors were deployed on Saturday to assess if buildings severely impacted by slips, land subsidence and flood damage were safe for people to be in.
Early on Sunday a full-scale building assessment operation began with 130 council inspectors from Auckland and a further 15 inspectors from Hamilton and Tauranga. The operation will cover more than 5000 dwellings and commercial buildings in over 25 suburbs.
A team of 75 Healthy Waters staff and contractors are dealing with flooding requests for service, with more than 700 received as at 8am this morning, and nine closed landfill engineers have been inspecting the region's closed landfill sites to check for any stability issues.
Teams of community facilities contractors have been working around the clock to clean up facilities and streets to make them safe for pedestrians and visitors, repair damage to council buildings and parks, and pump water out of sites.
Several council facilities remain closed or have reduced services as a result of damage sustained to buildings or their surrounding area. A full list of service and facilities impacted is available here. Additionally, many weekend events have been cancelled to ensure public safety. Event information is available on OurAuckland.
Stabback says that given the widespread nature of the weather event, it will take time to respond to the hundreds of requests for service and to get a full picture of the impacts.
"The severity of the storm means that our call centres have been experiencing four times the volumes of calls that we'd normally get in a weekend. We are prioritising calls where people and property are at risk and appreciate your patience," he said.
"We've seen during times of crisis how incredible Aucklanders are at supporting each other. While our teams work through the job ahead of us, I would ask everyone to help each other wherever they can, and to be patient while we work through a huge volume of requests for our help."
8:15pm - A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Carterton and Masterton.
"At 8pm, MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near Stronvar and Blairlogie," MetService said.
"These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the south, and are expected to lie near Ngahape and Te Wharau at 8:30pm.
"These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain and large hail."
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in force for Wanganui, Manawatu, Tararua, Kapiti-Horowhenua, Wairarapa, and Wellington.
8:10pm - Here's a statement from Vector on power outages in Auckland:
Our crews have worked continuously since Friday afternoon to restore power to customers across the region, and we've brought in other crews from outside Auckland to help with the recovery.
With most of the network restored, as our crews gain access and assess remaining faults we are finding complexities that have not been apparent before. Our crews come to work to make sure people have power to their homes and business so are highly motivated and committed to getting the power on for all Aucklanders.
An example is on Kawau Island, where two poles need replacing in an area where the job can only be carried out safely using a helicopter to lift the poles and other equipment into place. Unfortunately, due to the forecast weather for the next few days we have been advised it is unsafe to fly until Wednesday or Thursday. We know this will come as extremely unwelcome news to those on Kawau Island without power, and we can assure them we are working to repair the network as quickly and safely as we can. We continue to work closely with Civil Defence.
Our crews are deploying a range of solutions to restore power quickly and safely, including using temporary pole installations, and supplying customers from other parts of the network. There will be many cases where we need to return later to make a more permanent repair.
We are also responding to specific requests from customers to switch power off for safety reasons, such as flooding in commercial buildings.
We're also watching the weather closely for further wind and rain over the next few days. Unfortunately, this may cause further power outages and impact restoration jobs still underway.
8:05pm - MetService says there is a large thunderstorm cell to the east of Masterton.
"Some big rumbles over the Tararua National Park right now. Thunderstorms are like localised red warnings," MetService tweeted. "This one expecting downpours of 25 to 40mm per hour, and possibly large hail (diameter greater than 20mm)."
7:50pm - Auckland Emergency Management has just sent an emergency alert to people's phones. Here's a statement they've released on why they sent it:
Auckland Emergency Management has tonight issued an Emergency Mobile Alert (EMA) to provide important safety messages ahead of the potential for extremely heavy rain to hit the Auckland region.
MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning due to an active line of thunderstorms currently sitting over the Hauraki Gulf. Between now and 7am tomorrow (Monday), this line of thunderstorms could produce localised downpours of 50-90mm of rainfall. The possibility of localised extreme downpours up to 150mm cannot be ruled out, with the larger totals likely north of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Auckland Emergency Management Controller Mace Ward says, "Given recent rainfall, the ground is extremely saturated which changes how rainfall can affect the environment. The decision to issue this alert was made so people in the region can make the best decisions of how to remain safe, should this heavy rain eventuate."
People in the area between Ōrewa/Waiwera and down to Papakura/Drury, from coast to coast including Aotea Great Barrier Island are advised to:
- Make sure you stay informed. Watch the forecast at www.metservice.com/warnings
- Avoid unnecessary travel. Check road conditions if you do have to travel
- Floods and flash floods can happen quickly. Act immediately if you see rising water – do not wait for official warnings. Head for higher ground and stay away from flood water
- Check www.aem.org.nz for updates and information. Listen to emergency services and self-evacuate if you feel unsafe
- If life is in danger, call 111 immediately
Any further updates will be posted to the Auckland Emergency Management social media channels.
EMAs are delivered to phones within reach of selected cell tower locations. Given the location of this system, most of the population of Auckland will have received this EMA, though some people outside the warning area may also receive the EMA. More information on how EMAs work, including troubleshooting, is available on the Get Ready website.
7:40pm - Urban design experts say Auckland's catastrophic flooding is a wake-up call and we must plan our cities better to avoid such widespread damage.
Science shows the frequency of extreme weather events will increase as the planet warms, but with proper planning we can be better prepared.
Read and watch the full story from Newshub's climate correspondent Isobel Ewing here.
7:25pm - Auckland Transport (AT) is urging Aucklanders to take care when travelling around the city on Monday.
While many roads have reopened, they said there is still damage on roads and closures remain around the region.
AT interim chief executive Mark Lambert said while significant progress has been made since Friday evening, there will continue to be significant disruptions across the transport network for some time as repairs are undertaken.
"I would again like to thank our teams for the massive effort and significant progress made on reopening roads and restoring public transport services across the region, however, we're asking Aucklanders for their patience over coming days as further significant work is needed," he said.
Subject to any further weather impact, AT is planning to resume train services on Auckland's eastern, western and southern rail lines on Tuesday.
Lambert said it's been a big team effort by Auckland Transport, KiwiRail and Auckland One Rail since Friday to put together a plan to get rail services back up and running from Tuesday.
"The extreme flooding on Friday has caused damage to various sections across Auckland's rail network but we are confident that we can safely run some services from Tuesday," he said.
"Because of the damage across the network we will need to run passenger trains at reduced speeds at various points, meaning that customers will experience longer journey times as well as reduced timetables and unfortunately will need to make transfers in some cases to complete their journey."
Normal bus operations are expected today, with services operating usual Sunday timetables, but AT said there are many detours of routes still in place due to road closures that will add extra travel time and cause some services to be operating later than timetabled.
And all ferry services except Rakino are operating as usual today, with trips on the Hobsonville/Beach Haven route having resumed this morning.
7:15pm - Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty says with more bad weather on the way, he is urging people who will be affected by upcoming storms and deluges to take care.
"Auckland and Waitomo remain under local states of emergency following severe weather. Other regions have also experienced impacts from this event and Civil Defence is monitoring the situation," he tweeted.
"A number of roads across the affected regions remain closed due to flooding and others are affected by slips, debris and surface flooding.
"Avoid non-essential travel if you can. If you do have to travel, drive to the conditions and never drive through floodwaters. If you come to a flooded area, turn around and go another way."
7:10pm - NZ Post says it expects normal deliveries to resume on Tuesday.
They suspended their operations on Friday in Auckland when the state of emergency was declared.
"Our priority is always the safety and wellbeing of our people, and we needed to make sure all our teams were safe and back home with their whānau," a NZ Post spokesperson said.
"Yesterday we focused on making sure we had support in place for any team members who were affected and assessing any damage to our sites.
"Today we've been working with our teams in Waitomo, Coromandel, Tauranga and other affected areas to make sure they are safe and have everything they need."
In areas where there is safe access, by Tuesday they expect deliveries to return to normal, including items that were due for delivery on Saturday.
"NZ Post advises there will be no deliveries in Auckland, Northland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Gisborne and Nelson regions on Auckland, Northland and Nelson Anniversary Day, Monday 30 January," the spokesperson said.
"Customers can find the latest updates on our Domestic Delivery updates page and locate parcels through our online parcel tracking. We ask that customers please help us to keep our Customer Contact Centre for business-critical enquiries only."
7pm - There is some surface flooding in Paraparaumu Beach.
One Twitter user posted a video of flooding on a street just after a downpour this afternoon.
6:50pm - For Watercare customers in Titirangi, there are some water tankers in the area.
They are at these locations this evening:
- 717 South Titirangi Road
- Bottom of Tawini Road
- 1 Cochran Road, Oratia
- 4 Shetland Street, Glen Eden
- 66 Avonleigh Road, Green Bay - Metlife Care
- Glendale Road, Glen Eden - Scout Group
- Corner of Kotinga and Puketitiro Street, Glen Eden
Corner of Withers and Paewai Rd, Glen Eden.
The tankers will be on-site until about 9:30pm, Watercare said.
6:40pm - Dark grey clouds are setting in over the lower North Island as a severe thunderstorm warning hangs over the area.
The photo below is looking down Kāpiti Coast.
6:20pm - Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says the Civil Defence emergency hub at Māngere Memorial Hall at 23 Domain Road, Māngere Bridge, will now be open all night.
"People requiring emergency assistance & accommodation can make their way to the hub. Crs Alf Filipaina & Lotu Fuli & the Local Board, supported by the Mayor, have been strong advocates - and have worked hard all day personally - so the centre can be open all night tonight," his mayoral office tweeted.
"he Mayor is very grateful for their work, and that of the community & [Auckland Emergency Management] staff, to get this done ahead of tonight's expected downpour, which risks more people being affected by flooding."
6pm - There is now a heavy rain warning in place for Northland, Auckland including Great Barrier Island, and the Coromandel Peninsula.
"A strong and humid northeast flow remains over northern and central New Zealand, with bursts of heavy rain and thunderstorms likely for a number of regions," MetService said.
"People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts in case any changes are made, or further areas are added."
Also, MetService warns an active line of thunderstorms has formed over the Hauraki Gulf.
"Get ready for localised downpours with high intensity rain rates 20-40mm/hr now until dawn tomorrow," MetService said. "North of the Bridge + central Auckland, may see totals next 12 hours 50-90mm, risk of 150mm."
5:50pm - Waka Kotahi NZTA says working is continuing to clear slips and debris from a number of state highways in order to minimise travel disruptions.
Waka Kotahi regional manager of maintenance and operations Peter Brown said at the moment the focus for contractors is clearing debris and slips, and ensuring lanes are open and useable.
He said while a number of key state highways have been cleared today, there have been additional slips in other areas, forcing more closures.
"We've also been undertaking geotechnical assessments in a number of areas where there have been slips onto the road and underneath the road," Brown said.
"We know there's going to be further need to assess the damage to the network and that will happen as quickly as possible. The immediate priority is making sure as many roads as possible have at least some access. Our main priority is the safety of motorists using the roads and contractors working on them.
"One of the concerns we have is the rain forecast for the middle of the week. Any rain, even if it's not quite as heavy as this weekend's rain, will be falling onto already-sodden roads and soil."
Brown said they are working on plans to repair and restore damaged parts of the network, but in many cases they will need to wait for warmer, drier weather.
"We know it can be frustrating when you face delays on the road, or the inconvenience of roadworks, but thank you for your patience and understand. Please allow more time for your trips at the moment and be courteous to other road users," he said.
"The adverse weather isn't in our control and the rain keeps moving swiftly. So if you do come across a slip or debris or flooding that you can't see listed on our Journey Planner just yet, please call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS.
"As always, if you must travel at this time, exercise extreme caution. Drive to the conditions, which means keeping a safe following distance and dropping your speed. Be prepared for some road surfaces to be rough where rain has stripped top layers of the seal and watch for flooding and other debris on the road."
5:30pm - The Insurance Council of New Zealand has given an update:
As storms continue to impact much of the North Island, insurers are prioritising those most affected, and want to remind customers that claims can be lodged through insurers' websites as well as by telephone and be transparent about the claims handling process for large events.
"If you are homeless or otherwise vulnerable as a result of the storms, don't hesitate to call your insurer. These types of claims will be prioritised," said Insurance Council of New Zealand Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) Chief Executive, Tim Grafton. "If your claim is minor, think about using your insurers' website to lodge your claim."
Insurers are well prepared to deal with emergencies and have all available staff working to help customers. It is normal for those who are vulnerable or most in need, such as those whose homes are no longer habitable, to be prioritised and for phone lines to be busy in an emergency.
All available assessors are already working to get out to do initial assessments, working with local authorities where necessary. In some cases, there are access and safety considerations that slow the assessments down.
"As we have seen after other large-scale events, we know that there will be high demand for tradies, building materials, household goods and vehicles over the coming months," added Tim. "Insurers will do what they can to prioritise those in greatest need, especially those who won't be able to move home or re-open their businesses before repairs are done. As such, many minor repairs, or the supply of replacement goods, will, in some cases, take longer than normal."
5:15pm - Waka Kotahi NZTA and provided an update on the North Island state highway network:
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency contractors have been working to re-open access across the motu today, although wet weather is set to continue and a number of state highways remain closed.
Detour routes are in place for those that need to travel and Waka Kotahi advises those who are out on the road to take extra caution and drive to the conditions.
State Highway closures as of 5pm:
Northland Region:
SH1 Brynderwyn to Waipu:
- Forecast wet weather means that SH1 Brynderwyn Hills will remain closed from the SH12 intersection to Waipu.
- Motorists should expect delays with a detour via Waipu / Mangawhai. Freight and heavy vehicles are advised to detour via SH12.
Auckland region:
SH 1 South-Eastern Highway off-ramp:
- Due to flooding, SH1 South-eastern Motorway off-ramp southbound is currently closed. Expect delays.
SH 16 Great North Road Off-ramp and Great North:
- Due to flooding and underslips, SH16 Great North Road off-ramp is currently closed. Expect delays.
Both off-ramps are expected to re-open later tonight (weather depending).
Waikato region:
SH 25 Thames to Coromandel:
- The slip at Ruamahunga has now been cleared and the road is open under stop/go traffic management.
SH25 Coromandel to Whitianga:
- A large slip has come down on Whangapoua Hill, and this route is now no longer accessible. Work is being undertaken to reopen this slip to one lane as soon as possible.
From Coromandel, SH25 Thames Coast Road is open and from Te Rerenga / Whangapoua, SH25 towards Whitianga is open through to Waihi (as flooding has now receded).
SH 25A Kopu to Hikuai:
- A large section of the road at summit of SH25A between Kopu and Hikuai collapsed yesterday afternoon. The highway is closed until further notice. The Tapu-Coroglen and 309 roads are also closed. Detour is State Highway 2 via Karangahake Gorge.
SH3 Te Kūiti:
- Slips and flooding on either side of Te Kūiti township are now clear and SH3 Te Kūiti is open.
SH37 Waitomo:
- SH37 remains closed due to a large slip between the roundabout at SH3 and Fullerton Road. Work is being undertaken to reopen this slip to one lane as soon as possible.
SH2 Karangahake Gorge:
- The gorge remains open however we are closely monitoring for any signs of flooding. The DoC carpark is closed and we discourage access to leisure facilities during this time.
Bay of Plenty/Gisborne region:
SH29 Lower Kaimai to Tauriko:
- Larges slips near Ruahihi Road are being cleared and the highway is expected to re-open between Poripori Road and Tauriko later tonight (weather permitting). A detour is available via Poripori Road.
SH30 Tikitere to Rotoma:
- Slips are currently being cleared and SH30 (between SH33 and SH34) is scheduled to re-open later tonight (weather permitting). A detour is available via SH2 and SH33.
SH2 between Ōpōtiki and Gisborne:
- Flooding and slips have been cleared and the highway is now open.
Hawke's Bay region:
SH50 Maraekakaho, at Kereru Road Lower Kaimai to Tauriko:
- Fallen trees have now been cleared and this section is now open.
5:10pm - The Ministry of Education says the majority of schools and kura in Auckland have indicated they're not affected by floods or only have minor damage.
Sam Fowler, Ministry of Education head of property, said its school property team and emergency response coordinators are following up with the small number of schools and kura who have indicated they have suffered significant damage to provide any support that is required.
"We will have a clearer understanding, once the schools and kura affected have worked through the impact of any damage caused, as to whether any are unable to open for onsite learning as planned," Fowler told Newshub in a statement.
"The decision to open or close remains that of the Board of Trustees for schools. The best information will come from schools themselves and parents and whānau are advised to check their school's website or Facebook page.
"Our support will be available for as long as needed. Any school who has suffered significant property damage should contact their emergency response coordinators."
5pm - Here's an update from MetService:
Following on from Friday's deluge across Auckland, other parts of the North Island have begun to feel the brunt of the severe weather. Many North Island locations remain vulnerable and will see further driving rain in the coming days, warns MetService.
In the last 36 hours rainfall tallies have piled up across many regions. The inland ranges of the Bay of Plenty got the highest numbers (one location measured 302mm over 36 hours, although less than Auckland Friday night event), but a broad swath of over 100mm across large reaches of the North Island meant that flooding, slips and road closures have continued to cause problems all weekend. Extensive flooding resulted in a State of Emergency being declared in the Waitomo region on Saturday evening.
Rain has temporarily eased in some areas, but MetService forecasters are warning people in these saturated places that things are not over, and to be prepared for significant bouts of further rainfall through the first half of this week.
MetService meteorologist Angus Hines explains, "The feed from the Tropics of humid, rain-laden air shows no sign of letting up any time soon. Large rainfall figures are still expected, and this is in addition to the immense rain which has already fallen."
While this rain will spread across many areas, there are places of particular concern.
"Te Tai Tokerau/Northland is going to get waves of impactful rain in the coming days, especially overnight tonight (Sunday), and again from Tuesday. An Orange Rain Warning is in places for that area for the first of these waves, and more weather warnings are likely to be issued in the coming days," said Hines
"Following the devastating flooding in Auckland on Friday, further bouts of upcoming rain will quickly put stress on already saturated soils, meaning more flooding and road closures are likely this week."
Considering the saturated soils in the far north of the country the MetService Severe Weather Team will be operating with reduced warning criteria for Auckland and Northland. "This is due to a risk of further flooding in already saturated areas with lesser amounts of rain than would normally cause concern. Impacts will be felt faster than normal, so it's important we can warn the public," explained Hines.
When asked about when this rainfall was clearing, Hines said, "The worst of the rain for the North Island looks to clear by lunchtime on Thursday, although we can't rule out some showers lingering right into the weekend. However, for those down South, who have so far avoided most of the rain, there will be wet weather through much of the week, especially west of the Southern Alps."
4:25pm - MetService has updated its severe thunderstorm watch. It now extends southwestwards to include areas down to the Kāpiti Coast.
4:17pm - On rubbish and removal, Kelleher says there are plans in place for people who need help removing storm-damaged items.
People can call 0800 22 22 00 for help, but Kelleher encourages people to get in touch with their insurers first because removal is likely covered.
The press conference is now finished.
4:15pm - Kelleher says people can check the Auckland Council website for services and facilities that are shut.
She asks people to avoid beaches for the next few days until the weather settles down, since they can be a hazard.
4:13pm - Trains are not running today, nor will they be running tomorrow, due to KiwiRail's maintenance work.
Allen estimates trains on the eastern, western, and southern lines will be operational by Tuesday, but these will be at a limited timetable.
4:10pm - Also at this press conference is Andrew Allen, Auckland Transport executive general manager of transport services.
With rain expected in the next 48 hours, he is expecting delays across the roading and transport network.
He asks that people who need to use the roads to plan ahead and drive to the conditions.
About 45 roads have been impacted in Auckland, which means they're closed or partially closed, due to slips and other damage.
4:09pm - Devlin encourages people in danger from fire, slips, or other major events to call 111, although responders will be prioritising callouts to people who need it most.
4:08pm - Devlin says Fire and Emergency has checked and been in touch with everyone who made emergency calls on Friday night and says everyone is okay.
He adds they're bringing in two more urban search and rescue teams to help AEM.
4:07pm - Joining Kelleher is Ron Devlin, region manager at Fire and Emergency.
He said he "can't speak highly enough" of firefighters who have helped out since Friday night.
4:04pm - Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) is giving their update. Here is a link to watch that.
AEM controller Rachel Kelleher says there's a chance for more bad weather tonight, including the thunderstorms MetService has forecast.
More heavy rain could cause more slips in areas that have already been hit hard, she added.
3:45pm - Auckland Emergency Management is due to give an update at 4pm.
They are streaming this on their Facebook page. We'll embed the livestream on this page once it's available, and we'll also bring you information live from this press conference.
3:35pm - Auckland Emergency Management is warning "it's not over yet" since there's a heavy rain watch in place for parts of Auckland.
"Of significant interest to us all today is the weather situation over the coming days. More rain today may cause further issues with our recovery," says Auckland Emergency Management duty controller Rachel Kelleher.
"We are continuing to work closely with our response partners and utilising our Auckland Council teams to provide support to communities and respond to issues on the ground."
Building assessment update
According to Auckland Emergency Management, there are 130 assessors on the ground working in 65 teams covering a wide area from Wellsford to Pukekohe. Rapid building assessments take about 20 minutes each. The teams are issuing placards when required and leaving information for homeowners.
There have been 10 additional red placards, bringing the total to 19 so far.
"As information comes through from the teams on where damage is more concentrated, we're moving more teams into those areas to progress building assessments quickly. These teams will keep working as long as it is safe to do so," Auckland Emergency Management said.
"The urban search and rescue (USAR) teams are working alongside building assessors, and using drones to survey streams to check for blockages that can’t be seen from the ground.
"A message for the building industry: we ask for your patience as there may be delays as our teams work through this. We have requested additional building assessors from MBIE to work this through as quickly as possible."
Power
As at 10am, 98 percent of flood related outages had been restored by Vector, Auckland Emergency Management said. Around 700 properties are still without power. Most will be restored today, except for 300 on Kawau Island.
Water supply update
Addressing water supply issues is a priority, Auckland Emergency Management said.
There are several water supply issues throughout west Auckland, with customers reporting low water pressure, no water or discoloured water.
Wastewater network update
There have been numerous overflows caused across Auckland, due to the wastewater networks and treatment plants being overwhelmed by stormwater.
Auckland Emergency Management said the most significant issue currently is on the North Shore.
"We are working to restore service to several pump stations, including Wairau, Alma and Blackrock. We ask and encourage people on the North Shore to reduce their water use, to reduce the volume of wastewater leaving their properties," they said.
"We encourage people to stay away from beaches and waterways, as there is the potential for wastewater contamination. The Safeswim website has information about beach water quality.
"We are prioritising overflows that are damaging private property. Most of the clean-up activity will need to occur when the rain stops - when the overflows will stop flowing."
3:30pm - There is a severe thunderstorm warning for Manawatu and Rangitikei, MetService says.
At 3pm, the MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near Marton and Bulls.
"These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the southsouthwest, and are expected to lie near Ohakea, Marton, Sanson, Bulls, and Santoft at 3:30pm and near Ohakea, Marton, Rongotea, Sanson, Bulls, Tangimoana, and Santoft at 4pm," MetService says.
"These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain.
"Torrential rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous."
3:25pm - Waiatarua and Oratia customers on Watercare's network are warned a road slip has caused a pipe to break and has interrupted supply from the Bush Rd reservoir.
"You may have no water or low pressure until the fault is fixed," Watercare said on Twitter. "Crew expect the repair to take a further 12hrs. Thank you for your patience."
3:15pm - Here's an update from Fire and Emergency on Auckland, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty weather:
Fire and Emergency crews continue to assist people in Auckland, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty with weather related call outs this weekend.
Call volumes and incident volumes have decreased from the peak numbers on Friday night but are still high.
For the 24 hours on Saturday, 28 January 2023, our 111 Fire Communication Centres received 501 111 calls across the country, 442 of which were from Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty as the bad weather moved south.
In Auckland, there were 333 call outs which included:
- 18 rescues of people (trapped in houses, cars and as a result of car crashes)
- 17 priority one incidents (where there is confirmed risk to people)
- 110 priority two incidents (where there is a potential risk to people).
In Waikato there were 46 call outs which included:
- One rescue
- Three priority one incidents
- 18 priority two incidents.
In the Bay of Plenty there were 63 call outs which included:
- Two rescues
- Two priority one incidents
- 23 priority two incidents.
Fire and Emergency Chief Executive Kerry Gregory has thanked Fire and Emergency staff and volunteers for their work keeping people safe during the bad weather this weekend in Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Waikato.
"The conditions Aucklanders experienced on Friday night were unprecedented and I am extremely proud of how our personnel went above and beyond to assist people in their time of need, particularly when many were also dealing with weather related events at home," Kerry Gregory says.
"This includes our 111 Fire communication centre staff, our crews on the ground and the teams who've done an amazing job supporting our frontline crews in their work.
"This is work they continue to do and I thank them for it.
"We have incredibly resourceful and committed people at Fire and Emergency NZ. I acknowledge and thank them all.
"I also want to acknowledge and recognise the fantastic work carried out by our fellow emergency services during this event."
3pm - Damage to roads throughout the North Island has caused many to be closed, a train has derailed, a bridge swept away and the Coromandel Peninsula is cut off.
Authorities in many areas today reiterated yesterday's warnings to stay home if you are safe, and not to go out on the roads unless it was essential.
Hazards include trees down, slips, electrical risks, damaged roads and sewage and wastewater contamination. Floodwaters were particularly dangerous to drive in as there could be unseen hidden dangers such as holes or logs.
2:50pm - Singer Lorde is among those volunteering to help out Aucklanders today.
Green MP for Auckland Central Chlöe Swarbrick posted a photo to Facebook showing a group of people helping out at a community welfare support centre.
Swarbrick said in a Facebook comment that Lorde dropped off some supplies to them.
"Community response goes hard," Swarbrick said.
Lorde is pictured in the bottom left of the photo below.
2:40pm - Northland Civil Defence is urging residents and visitors to be prepared for the upcoming heavy rain. Here's their full update:
Northland Civil Defence is urging Northlanders and those visiting the region to be prepared as MetService New Zealand has issued an Orange Heavy Rain Warning and Severe Thunderstorm watch for Northland tonight until 12pm Monday.
With this heavy rain coming on top of the recent heavy rain, streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips and road closures are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.
Northland Civil Defence Controller Graeme MacDonald says, "We know there have been a few weather warnings for the region recently and it's easy to get complacent since we got off lightly last time, but Northlanders should take this one seriously and be prepared."
MacDonald says, if you haven't already, take the time to prepare. "There are simple things you can do like ensuring you have supplies ready in case you need to stay at home for a prolonged period, as well as relocating items from any areas of your property that are prone to flooding. You can also check getteady.govt.nz for more ways to prepare."
He also urges residents to drive to the conditions and if possible, avoid traveling later tonight and tomorrow. "Especially since thunderstorms are possible on top of the heavy rain we have already received, we may see hazards across our roading network, so please stay home if you can and keep up to date with the weather conditions.
"We'll be keeping a close eye on this one and you can keep up to date with any key information on this weather event on the Northland Civil Defence Facebook page or in the Civil Defence section of the Northland Regional Council website: https://www.nrc.govt.nz/civildefence/."
Lastly, he adds: "If at any time you feel you, your family and/or your property are at risk, immediately contact emergency services on 111."
2:24pm - Wood says only people who need to travel should be on the roads, and urged those who do drive to take extra care.
The press conference has now finished.
2:20pm - Sepuloni says among the houses without power and water, her home is one of those remaining that doesn't have water.
2:19pm - On insurance, Wood encourages people to get in touch with their insurers as soon as possible.
He says people affected by the heavy rain and flooding should take photos and videos of their homes that they can show to their insurers.
2:16pm - Sepuloni says she's working to get people into housing rather than staying in emergency centres.
She hopes the number of people in emergency centres will reduce, but she's continuing to work on it.
2:14pm - Wood says it is clear there will be long-term impacts on roads and the state highway network.
He says he is committed to helping the community get through this.
2:12pm - Wood encourages people to check Waka Kotahi and the Auckland Transport websites and social media channels to see which roads are shut.
On public transport, Auckland One Rail is checking all rail lines.
Wood says the international flight schedule will take some time to get back to normal, but these flights resumed at 5am this morning.
2:10pm - Transport Minister Michael Wood is giving an update on roading and transport.
He says while some state highways are closed, there are detours in place for those who need to travel.
Wood thanked road users and local communities for their patience during the floods.
2:09pm - Sepuloni says she's heartened to see how Aucklanders have come together to help each other.
2:08pm - Sepuloni encourages people who need help to contact the Ministry of Social Development on 0800 400 100. People can call between 8am and 5pm today.
She also reiterated the locations of Civil Defence centres, which are listed above.
2:04pm - No one in emergency housing has been displaced, Sepuloni says.
2:04pm - Sepuloni says the Government's priority is to ensure Aucklanders are safe and have access to the services they need.
She says they were quick to activate supports to those in the city after the state of emergency was declared.
2pm - Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Transport Minister Michael Wood are about to give a press conference on the flooding in Auckland.
This is now in the video player above. Refresh the page if you can't see it.
1:45pm - A fourth person has now died in the floods.
Police said they have found the body of what they believe is the man earlier reported as missing. He was swept away by floodwaters in Onewhero.
"He was located by a drone operator about 1km downstream from where he went missing," a police spokesperson said.
"Police have been overwhelmed by the way the community has rallied around and gone above and beyond to assist with the search.
"Locals have offered their time and effort, food, and support to others around them at this extremely difficult time."
The deaths will be referred to the Coroner.
1:35pm - MetService says heavy rain in Auckland is currently mainly to the south of the city, affecting Papakura, Pukekohe, and northern Waikato.
There are also thunderstorms affecting Tuakau and Te Kauwhata that are moving southwestwards.
1:25pm - Police have released the name of the man who was found dead in a culvert on Target Road, Wairau Valley, on Friday.
He was Daniel Mark Miller, 34, of Wairau Valley.
"Police extend their sympathies to his family and friends," a spokesperson said.
His death has been referred to the Coroner.
1:10pm - Auckland Emergency Management controller Rachel Kelleher said 98 percent of flood-related power outages have been restored.
Those still without power will likely be restored today, she added, with the exception of Kawau Island.
Kelleher said her message to Aucklanders is to avoid unnecessary travel, look out for each other, and keep up-to-date with the latest on Auckland Council and Auckland Emergency Management's social media.
1:05pm - MetService and Auckland Emergency Management are giving an update.
Georgina Griffiths from MetService said the Auckland area is "very vulnerable" at the moment to any rainfall. As a result, the threshold for what constitutes heavy rain has been reduced.
She said if there are any rainfall rates of 10-15mm/h, there could be localised ankle-deep flooding. This will be brief and not like the flooding seen on Friday.
MetService's main concern is the area north of Orewa. Griffiths said if they see thunderstorms develop overnight and there are rainfalls of 20-40mm/h, then there will be impacts in that region. She added that it isn't certain this will happen, but given the current weather situation, they are keeping a close eye on it.
12:55pm - MetService says Northland is a "major area of concern" for them over the coming days.
They say an orange rain warning is likely for Sunday and Monday, and further heavy rain is likely on Tuesday, with strong wind.
12:45pm - Chris Quin, the chief executive of Foodstuffs North Island, says it's been an "intense" 36 hours for their co-operative and partners.
After fully assessing the impact of their Pak'NSave, New World, and Four Square stores, all but three stores are open and operating today and "every suburb impacted by the floods has a shopping option nearby".
"While the wet weather continues, we're not expecting a repeat of the record rainfall experienced on Friday. At one point we had 14 stores impacted in a severe to moderate way, so to now have only three stores not able to open, and with clear plans in place to get them open, it's a huge testament to the mahi of our teams. It's been awesome to see everyone pull together to make sure every community impacted has a local option to get their groceries," Quin said.
"Every hour counts when you're picking and transporting groceries - and while we had a few delays with transport, we're in good supply and thanks to the dedication of our amazing Distribution Centre teams, we're catching up and in pretty good shape under the circumstances."
The stores currently closed are:
- New World Fresh Collective, Alberton Road, Mt Albert, Auckland
- New World Newmarket, 42 Nuffield Street, Newmarket, Auckland
- Pak'NSave Wairau Road, 30-60 Wairau Road, Glenfield, Auckland.
12:30pm - Air New Zealand has provided the below update following widespread disruptions caused by the Auckland flooding:
To help customers self-serve, the airline has added further capability to the manage booking function allowing customers booked on an Air New Zealand service the ability to rebook their cancelled international flight over the next 20 days. This has been extended from 10 days due to limited capacity available.
At this stage, the airline will have 13 flights departing and 15 flights arriving into Auckland International Airport across the day.
The airline is advising those with non-urgent travel between now and Monday, January 30 2023 to make use of the flexibility policy. Customers can either hold their fare in credit or rebook in the same class of travel between Saturday, January 28 2023 and Monday, February 13 2023 without fare difference, penalty or service fees.
Customers can easily opt into credit via the Air New Zealand app or website in the manage booking tab, by selecting 'request a credit.' They can also use the app or website to change their flights to another date and have their change fee waived, though a fare difference may apply.
12:15pm - Auckland power authority Vector says 700 houses remain without power in the region - 300 of which are on Kawau Island.
"As at 10am, 98 percent of flood related outages have been restored," it said on Sunday.
"We know it's extremely difficult to be without power for extended periods of time and we're communicating directly with those customers still affected, to help them plan ahead as much as possible. We encourage anyone with welfare needs to contact Civil Defence.
"Our teams are also making preparations in light of the potential for further impacts from rain and winds, which are forecasted over the coming days. Safety of our crews and the public remain paramount and at times our crews may need to stand down due to unsafe conditions."
12pm - Auckland Civil Defence will be holding a press conference with an update at 1pm. You can watch this live on the agency's Facebook page.
11:45am - Work is continuing to clear flood-affected roads across New Zealand, the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says.
"Our contractors have been working hard overnight to clear surface flooding and debris from the roads which has allowed a number of highways to reopen, including State Highway 1 Pūhoi," NZTA maintenance and operations regional manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult said.
"Ensuring our people have adequate rest so that we can clear as much damage as possible will be our main priority.
"Damage to SH1 at Brynderwyn Hills also means that crews will be closely monitoring this area. Our priority is to re-open this road as quickly as possible given the long weekend, however with additional rain expected, we won't hesitate to close this road if needed, for the safety of our workers and the public."
11:34am - Coromandel's east coast is now cut off, with the route between Whangamatā and Waihi now closed due to flooding, the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said. The region's Thames Coast Rd is also shut, local radio station CFM reported.
11:15am - A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Auckland and Northland and Manawatū, Tararua, Kapiti-Horowhenua and Wairarapa.
"A slow-moving front drifting west should pass over northern Auckland and Northland this evening and during Monday morning. Thunderstorms are possible with this front, some of which may be SEVERE," MetService said.
"Regardless of whether thunderstorms occur or not, there is the possibility of downpours, with intensities of 20 to 40 mm per hour, especially between 7pm Sunday and 10am Monday, although conditions may ease slightly earlier in Auckland.
"Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips."
10:55am - Auckland Council says it's expecting more rain to move into the city throughout Sunday, with potential heavy bursts in the afternoon and overnight.
"Flood water can rise quickly so avoid unnecessary travel, put your safety first... Remember, if your life, health or property is in danger, phone 111," the council said in a media update on Sunday.
"To report flooding, damage to drains or stormwater issues, please log your issue online at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/report-problem.
"For landslides that might affect public land, contact Auckland Council on 09 301 0101. For landslides that might affect public roads, contact Auckland Transport on 09 355 3553."
10:35am - Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick said the devastating flooding "is what climate change looks like".
"It isn't abstract. It looks like... unpredictable weather events, displacement of people, food insecurity and infrastructure under strain," she said in a statement.
"Climate change exacerbates already exisiting inequalities. It draws what we value into sharp focus."
10:15am - Heavy rain warnings have been issued for Northland and Coromandel while a heavy rain watch remains in place for Auckland including Great Barrier Island.
"Expect 90 to 120 mm of rain in the north and east, with lesser amounts in the west," MetService said of Northland's warning. "However, localised areas may receive 150 to 200 mm. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h, mainly in the north and east, but localised areas may see 25 to 40 mm/h especially in thunderstorms from this evening through to Monday morning."
Meanwhile, Coromandel has been told to expect another 50-70mm of further rain in the ranges between 9am and 6pm on Sunday.
"Peak intensities of 10 to 25mm/h and thunderstorms [are] possible," MetService said in its severe weather update on Sunday morning.
"Note, showers are likely through this evening and some could be heavy with thunderstorms also possible," the forecaster said, adding the rain should ease overnight.
10:05am - Auckland Airport has confirmed the first international passenger flight has taken off since Friday's deluge.
"The team at Auckland Airport is so pleased to see people at the terminal starting to get on their way again today and put what has been a really challenging experience behind them," chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui said.
"I'd also like to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of the 100-plus volunteers from our team at Auckland Airport over the past 37 hours, many of whom at been at the terminal around the clock to support travellers, even when they were facing their own challenges around flooding at home.
"For people travelling internationally, we want to let them know that some airport processes may take longer than normal as we restart international travel, so we just ask for travellers' patience and understanding as we gradually get back up to speed."
10:00am - SunLive reports a freight train was derailed near Te Puke on Sunday morning after flooding washed out the track.
"The engine and four freight carriages made it over with the 5th ripping apart and then logs carriages have split logs everywhere," Sammi Strickland told SunLive
"Two drivers got out with torches and unhitched the carriages that stayed attached and moved the engine away."
9:40am - NZTA hs released a list of the roads closed on the North Island. State Highway closures as of 9am are:
Northland Region:
SH 1 Brynderwyn to Waipu:
- Despite crews working overnight, SH1 Brynderwyn Hills remains closed from SH12 intersection to Waipu.
- Expect delays. Freight and heavy vehicles should detour via SH12 – light vehicles via Waipu/Mangawhai.
Auckland region:
SH 1 South-Eastern Highway off-ramp:
- Due to flooding, SH1 South-eastern Motorway off-ramp southbound is closed. Expect delays.
SH 16 Great North Road Off-ramp and Great North:
- Due to flooding and underslips, SH16 Great North Road off-ramp is closed. Expect delays.
Waikato region:
SH 25 Thames to Coromandel:
- Due to a slip at Ruamahunga, the highway is closed between Waiomu and Tapu.
No detour available.
SH 25A Kopu to Hikuai:
- A large section of the road at summit of SH25A between Kopu and Hikuai has collapsed late this afternoon.
The highway is closed until further notice. The Tapu-Coroglen and 309 roads are also closed.
Detour is State Highway 2 via Karangahake Gorge.
SH3 Te Kūiti
- Slips and flooding on either side of Te Kūiti township have resulted in the closure of SH3 between SH4 and Oparure Road.
Traffic travelling on SH3 through Te Kūiti should use the Troopers Road and Oparure Road detour to the west of Te Kūiti. Traffic travelling into and out of Te Kūiti have a short local detour from the northern side of the town starting at Te Kumi Station Road.
SH37 Waitomo
- Flooding as closed SH37 between the roundabout at SH3 and Fullerton Road.
Work is being undertaken to reopen this slip to one lane as soon as possible.
Bay of Plenty/Gisborne region:
SH29 Lower Kaimai to Tauriko:
- Due to a large slip at near Ruahihi Road the highway is closed between Poripori Road and Tauriko.
- A detour is available via Poripori Road.
SH 30 Tikitere to Rotoma
- Due to multiple slips, SH30 is closed between SH33 and SH34.
- A detour is available via SH2 and SH33.
SH2 between Ōpōtiki and Gisborne:
- The highway is closed due to flooding and slips.
Taranaki region:
SH 43 Stratford to Taumarunui
- Due to debris and flooding, SH 43 is closed between Stratford and Taumaranui.
Hawke’s Bay region:
SH50 Maraekakaho, at Kereru Road Lower Kaimai to Tauriko:
- Fallen trees have closed a section of State Highway at Kereru Road.
- SH2 is an alternate route.
9:30am - Around 5000 Auckland properties are being assessed for damage. Auckland Emergency Management Controller Rachel Kelleher told Stuff council inspectors were being kept busy.
"We’ve had teams starting from 7.30 this morning. There are 130 inspectors," she told Stuff.
"To date nine red placards have been issued."
9:00am - Civil Defence has released a checklist of things people affected by the floods might need. It includes where to get help, what payments you might be eligible for and how to clean up safely after a flood.
If you need help
To report flooding, damage to drains, or stormwater issues, please log your issue online: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/report-problem/Pages/report-a-problem.aspx • If your life is at risk, phone 111. •
If you need urgent accommodation assistance, phone Auckland Emergency Management on 0800 22 22 00. •
For welfare assistance, you can call the Ministry of Social Development on 0800 400 100.
As the situation continues to evolve, Auckland Emergency Management advises that people keep up to date with the latest travel advice by following Auckland Transport on Twitter @AT_TravelAlerts and by checking the Waka Kotahi website.
More details can be found here.
8:40am - Tauranga has born the brunt of the bad weather overnight with slips and flooding closing a number of roads.
A large slip has damaged houses on Egret Avenue in Maungatapu and the Historic Village is closed due to flooding.
Closed roads are:
- SH3 Te Kuiti, between SH4 and the intersection with Te Kumi Station Rd - Flooding - Detour in place
- SH29 between SH28 and Rauhihi Rd - Slip - Travellers to Matamata, Hamilton or Waikato detour via SH36 and SH5. For Tauranga bound, detour SH29, SH28/ Rapurapu Rd, SH5, SH36. Traffic to Auckland use SH2 Via Katikati, Waihi, and Paeroa
- SH30 Tikitere to Rotoma, between SH33 and SH34 - Slips - Detour via SH2 and SH33
- SH37 Hangatiki(SH3) to Waitomo Caves, between SH37/3 RAB and Fullerton Road - Slip - No detour
- SH41 Kuratau to Tokaanu, between the intersection with SH47 and SH32 - Large slip - Detour via SH4 and SH47
8:30am - Police say they are still responding to weather-related incidents across the North Island.
In a statement Police said they have assisted with traffic management and road closures throughout the Waitomo District after heavy rainfall has caused numerous slips, flooding, and damage to roads.
"In Tauranga, a landslide has caused a house to collapse, and has also threatened other neighbouring properties. Fortunately no one was seriously injured and police have assisted with evacuations in the area.
"There is widespread flooding across the Bay of Plenty, and roads have been heavily affected by slips.
"Police are asking those in areas experiencing severe weather to stay put and not attempt to travel on the roads, many of which are currently undrivable."
8:20am - WeatherWatch says on their website the wind and rain that moved southwards over the North Island is sliding back north again – and will linger until at least the middle to later part of the coming week, before yet again sliding back southwards.
Last Friday the rain and wind was over Auckland. By Saturday winds had eased in the north with rain spreading down across the North Island.
Today, Sunday, the more broken-up rain band is moving back northwards again into Coromandel Peninsula and later Auckland and Northland…only to return back southwards again by Tuesday/Wednesday (for the last time).
This means Auckland and other northern areas have more heavy rain – and more gales – mainly this Tuesday, with long dry spells today before the heavier showers are possible again.
Over Sunday and Monday wet weather will spread back to a number of places, with isolated thunderstorms.
For more details click here
8:00am - There are warnings of more rain in Auckland on Sunday, with heavy falls and thunderstorms possible in the afternoon.
"Humid and unstable conditions remain over the North Island during Sunday," said MetService in its thunderstorm outlook.
"For Auckland including Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Taupō, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui and parts of Gisborne, there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms."
For more details click here.
7:40am - WeatherWatch says the North Island won't shake off the rain until later this week as the bad weather dances around the top of New Zealand.
7:20am - Tauranga was hit by heavy rain yesterday with 29mm falling in one hour. The heavy rain caused slips in Maungatapu with one house on Egret Avenue falling into the road.
In a statement on Facebook Tauranga City Council said:
"We’re aware of an incident involving house damage on Egret Avenue in Maungatapu. Some residents of Egret Avenue have been evacuated and an area is cordoned off by Police. Our building inspectors will be onsite later this morning to evaluate the damage, and we will provide updates when we have more information."
7:00am - Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has come under considerable fire for his handling of the flooding disaster.
Brown has been criticised for not declaring a state of emergency in the city until late on Friday night.
There was a testy exchange with media on Saturday when Brown tried to defend hs actions.
Brown faced questioning over the lack of communication, which left many Aucklanders feeling abandoned. However Brown insisted they weren't.
"What we were doing in ensuring they were not actually abandoned. We were ensuring there were thousands of people out there and that was what I was doing... I was making sure that was taking place," he said.
"There's no sense communicating things which are just your view. You have to communicate facts and the facts were coming from these people here and I'm driven by that."
Brown has been slammed on social media, particularly for the way he handled Saturday's press conference.
6:50am - Auckland Airport issued a statement overnight saying only passengers with flights booked should go to the airport.
The statement said a number of passengers were unable to find accommodation and had spent another night at the airport.
"Given many will have been at the airport since yesterday afternoon, it was very important to us that their welfare was taken care of," said Carrie Hurihanganui, Auckland Airport Chief Executive.
Auckland Airport staff have been handing out baby essentials, snacks, water and hot food, including a sausage sizzle, some of which was provided with thanks to airlines and community organisations. Airlines and ground handlers also helped provide blankets. It has been a team effort.
"Around 50 people will also be able to stay the night at the Auckland Airport marae, Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa. We are very grateful to the marae for their support”, said Hurihanganui.
"Alongside ensuring these stranded passengers are taken care of, we have been focused on getting international travel at Auckland Airport back up and running as fast as possible.
"The teams have made great progress today and we look forward to resuming flight departures and arrivals tomorrow. However, we ask passengers for patience as we expect usual airport processes such as check in to take longer as we get up and running. There may be queues and delays and we ask that passengers allow plenty of time."Hurihanganui said.
6:30am - International flights have resumed from Auckland Airport with departures flying form 5am and arrivals landing from 7am.
The busy international airport was closed after flooding "significantly impacted" critical infrastructure components.
Thousands of domestic and international passengers were stranded overnight on Friday, leading to a heated exchange with airport chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui on Saturday.
Hurihanganui was approached by passengers after concluding a stand-up with journalists where she announced the airport's domestic terminal would reopen from midday.
Air New Zealand told Newshub while the terminal will be open for flying from 5am, it is unable to resume international flying out of Auckland until 12 noon tomorrow.
"It's unlikely we'll be ready to restart departures after assessments today show significant damage to ticketing, baggage and processing equipment," said Air NZ chief operational integrity and safety officer Captain David Morgan.
"We know from midday that airport and airline operations will be back up and running, and we'll be restarting with around three flights an hour as we ease into it."
6:10am - Severe thunderstorm warnings for Auckland and the Coromandel, which were issued on Saturday night, have been lifted, Metservice says.
The Metservice weather map looks a lot more settled than it has for the past few days as the extreme weather that hit the North Island over Friday and Saturday looks to be moving on.
There is a marine warning in place though with heavy swell and gale force winds expected. For more details click here.
