All eyes remain fixed on the skies in the upper North Island as rain continues to fall on already sodden land.
Emergency services in Auckland received more than 100 calls for assistance overnight - including in Titirangi where a house was evacuated as the land began to give way.
Four people have died in the flooding and a state of emergency remains in place for Auckland.
What you need to know:
Four people have died in the Auckland flooding
- A state of emergency remains in place in Auckland
- MetService has issued new red rainfall warnings for Northland, Coromandel and Auckland north of Orewa
- Coromandel residents are being warned that, since there's more rain on the way, land could give way at any time due to the saturation of their catchments
- A man has been arrested for allegedly looting flood-affected businesses in Auckland on Sunday. A woman accompanying the man received a warning
- Sixty-nine Auckland homes have been red-stickered (uninhabitable) and 300 yellow-stickered (restricted access)
- Auckland Airport has now reopened for both domestic and international flights
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 have finished.
9:10pm - MetService has updated its red heavy rain warnings.
In Northland, it will last from 3am on Tuesday to 6am on Wednesday. For Auckland north of Orewa, it will last from 4pm on Tuesday to 7am on Wednesday. And in the Coromandel Peninsula, it will last from 7pm on Tuesday to 4pm on Wednesday.
"This rain is expected to cause dangerous river conditions and significant flooding," MetService said.
"Slips and floodwaters are likely to disrupt travel, making some roads impassable and possibly isolating communities."
8:30pm - Here's an update from Vector on power outages in Auckland:
It's been a day of good progress with just a small number of properties remaining without power following the floods - all of which will be restored tonight apart from Kawau Island (see below).
A restoration in Titirangi was complicated by a major slip on the road we needed to access to reach the damaged equipment. We have been working with Auckland Transport to clear the slip and ensure the road is safe for our crews to attend and make the necessary repairs. The road has now been cleared and a generator is on the way to the area. Power will be connected this evening to the final customers.
Today, we had a small window to get one of our crew to Kawau Island to do some work that has provided power to some of the community. We continue to liaise with the helicopter company to establish when it is safe to fly the required equipment to the island to complete the restoration - it's expected this will happen on Wednesday or Thursday depending on the weather. There are 247 (from the earlier 312 properties) still without power.
Auckland remains on red alert with more bad weather forecast for the next couple of days. We will continue to monitor and update our customers as required. Our thoughts go out to all Aucklanders who have been impacted by this weekend's weather - kia kaha.
8:20pm - Here's a statement from Surf Life Saving Northern Region, urging the public to avoid the coastline until the current weather warnings clear:
Following recent updates and public advice from Auckland Emergency Management, Surf Life Saving are issuing warnings to all public to avoid the coastline until the current weather warnings clear.
At this stage while there is not absolute certainty over the next 48 hours of weather and rainfall, Surf Life Saving Northern Region Chief Executive Matt Williams has requested the public avoid using the coastline for recreation.
"The forecast has been indicative that the beach will not be a safe place for the next couple of day, in terms of both water-quality and conditions. Additionally, we are also expecting lifeguard assets to be stretched responding to incoming emergency taskings related to possible flooding."
Lifeguards will still be present at key locations to respond to emergencies that may arise, however it is not expected at this time that the flagged areas, which mark safe swimming areas on patrolled beaches, will be out due to unsafe or uncertain coastal conditions.
Regular updates on current patrols and water quality will be available across the SafeSwim platform.
Surf Lifeguards from Mangawhai SAR Squad and Sunset SAR Squad were requested by Police to assist with flood-water rescues in Maungaturoto and Port Waikato, but were unable to respond due to access points being blocked.
8:10pm - In the Coromandel, their red heavy rain warning starts on Tuesday and lasts until 6pm on Wednesday.
Local Civil Defence controller Garry Towler said this warning is "important as much as it is precautionary".
"We have expert advice from WRC [Waikato Regional Council] that land could give way at any time, due to the total saturation of our catchments," he said. "The more informed people are about this, the better decisions they can make. We have had over 1.3 metres of rain so far this year, so this is unknown territory for all of us."
8pm - The owner of a flood-damaged business has described a person who allegedly looted his shop as "worse than a low life", adding "I would not even describe him as human".
It comes as a vast clean-up continues, with large supermarkets reporting millions in losses from contaminated goods having to be thrown out.
Read and watch the full story from Newshub's Michael Morrah here.
7:50pm - Watercare says it has made good progress resolving water supply issues in west Auckland.
"Many customers in Glen Eden and Titirangi had water restored. We encourage customers in wider Titirangi to be prepared for intermittent water supply issues over the coming days as we are likely to find more damage to our networks caused by slips," they said on Twitter.
"Our crews will need to turn off the water supply for short periods of time in localised areas as they fix the damage."
7:30pm - SH31 Ngutunui to Kawhia, between Ngutuni Rd and Kaimango Rd, is now open, although drivers are urged to proceed with caution.
There was a slip earlier in the day.
6:55pm - The Ministry of Education has apologised "profusely" to schools who heard about closures through the media.
"We would also like to apologise profusely to our school leaders who heard this news through the media," they said on their website.
"We agree that you should always hear such news directly from us first. Unfortunately, an IT fault meant our emails out to principals were blocked. We have investigated this issue and the emails re-sent.
"We will strive for this to never happen again, and apologies again for the delay in receiving this update.
"Thank you for your patience and your mahi during this difficult time."
6:35pm - Here's an update from Air New Zealand as it introduces measures to help disrupted passengers:
With the airport reopened and international flights now underway, Air New Zealand is focusing its efforts on getting the 9,000 disrupted passengers around its network back into the skies - and easing the financial pressure on customers as it does so.
Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Office Leanne Geraghty says updates will be received by customers over the next 72 hours.
"Every available effort is being redirected to speed up the rebooking of these 9,000 impacted customers. Getting these customers to their destination is our most pressing concern at the moment."
In addition, the airline is also providing a goodwill payment providing stranded customers with much-needed support for accommodation costs while they await their new flight.
"To help, Air New Zealand will be temporarily refocusing staff in our international contact centre to rebook customers. This is just for the next 72 hours or until backlog is cleared. This means customers calling in will have a slightly different experience than they were expecting, but rest assured this allows us to help the customers who need us most."
Customers needing to get in touch with Air New Zealand can still do so via direct social media messages or WhatsApp, where issues can be logged and will be resolved as soon as possible.
The domestic call centre will operate as usual. The average wait time for domestic customers today is down to 45-minute as domestic flights resume and the backlog is cleared.
"We ask customers to be patient with us - leave us a message on social media or WhatsApp or postpone their call for a few days, and bear with us as we get our international customers rebooked on a flight to their destination."
Ms Geraghty says part of the challenge is flights were already quite full before the weather disrupted its schedule.
"Capacity across the global aviation network is limited. We're exploring all avenues and working with our alliance partners to see what help they can provide, along with seeing where we can move flights to get aircraft into the ports where we need them most.
"We've been able to add an extra flight to Los Angeles which will leave tonight from New Zealand to recover around 300 customers from up there."
Airline offers $250 accommodation goodwill payment for those displaced
"A state of emergency and an airport closure is extreme, and we e understand how stressful this period must be for many customers, particularly those overseas. To help we're offering a goodwill gesture of NZD $250 a night towards accommodation for displaced customers travelling internationally where we have not been able to provide accommodation and they have secured their own. If customers have sourced their own accommodation, we'll reimburse them up to NZD $250 per room per night if they send through their receipts."
International customers should email FlightComment@airnz.co.nz with receipts. This applies to all Air New Zealand customers affected by the Auckland floods who were originally traveling internationally between Friday 27 January and Sunday 29 January 2023.
"We've also introduced even greater flexibility so customers can change travel to an equivalent Air New Zealand international flight between Saturday 28 January and Tuesday 28 February 2023 without fare difference or penalty fees. If travel is only available in a higher cabin, the fare difference will apply.
Domestic customers can rebook in the same class of travel between Saturday 28 January and Monday 6 February 2023 without fare difference or penalty fees. Those not wanting to travel can put their fares into credit via our App or online.
If customer have purchased a fully refundable fare and no longer wish to travel, we ask them to cancel their booking through the manage my booking functionality and request a refund.
6:25pm - Auckland Emergency Management has shared a video on how to stay safe during a flood - and the first thing they say is to never enter flood water.
6:15pm - Here's an update from Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann on the temporary closure of Auckland District Court due to flood damage:
Auckland’s extreme rain event of Friday 27 January has damaged the Auckland District Court, and caused minor damage to some other court buildings. This media release advises how courts will operate in Auckland for the rest of the week, and where to find information about court proceedings affected by the temporary closure of the Auckland District Court.
With further rain forecast overnight and in the coming days, the operating status of the courts may change. Updates will be available on this website.
District Courts in Auckland to hear priority proceedings this week
The Auckland District Court will be closed for at least the rest of this week while flood damage is repaired. At this stage, there is no date set for when the courthouse will be repaired and safe to re-open and resume operations.
The Chief District Court Judge Heemi Taumaunu has agreed on a local solutions framework, which is attached as an appendix to this media release. It explains how proceedings will be managed while Auckland District Court is closed for repair work.
Arrangements are in place for cases scheduled to be heard in the Auckland District Court to be heard in other Auckland courts, on a priority basis. The priorities in each jurisdiction (Criminal, Family, Youth and Civil) are set out in the attachment.
Anyone due in the Auckland District Court this week should await information about their rescheduled date and venue. Please do not come to the Auckland District Court as for safety reasons, you will not be able to enter.
The work of all the District Courts in Auckland (Auckland, Waitakere, North Shore, Manukau, Papakura and Pukekohe) will be rescheduled to ensure the highest priority cases across the region can be heard. Defendants in custody are prioritised and their cases will be heard on the day they are scheduled to appear wherever possible.
All endeavours will be made to contact everyone whose business with the courts may be affected by the rescheduling.
Please ring 0800 COURTS for more information.
Auckland High Court
Auckland High Court will be fully operational on Tuesday 31 January and dealing with all scheduled matters. The Court will be working to minimise in-person attendance at court this week, in keeping with guidance for people to avoid travelling into the city. Please contact the registry for further information.
Specialist courts
The Auckland Employment Court, Environment Court and Coroners Court are, at this point, continuing to sit as usual, however this will be kept under review. The courts will inform parties of any change.
Māori Land Court hearings in Auckland are not affected.
6pm - Northern Gateway toll lifted to provide alternative free detour on SH1. Here's Waka Kotahi's full update:
The toll on the Northern Gateway will be paused from 5pm Monday 30 January until 10pm Sunday 5 February (or until the state of emergency in Auckland is lifted).
It will provide motorists who need to travel, a reliable alterative to SH16 which is being affected by flooding and the Hibiscus Coast Highway on-ramp which is closed due to damage.
People are still being urged to stay home if possible. If travel is essential, ensure you exercise extreme caution and drive to the conditions. 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.
Northland and Auckland road closures as at 5pm:
- SH1 Brynderwyn Hills: With additional slips occurring overnight and more wet weather forecast over the coming days, heavy traffic must use SH12 and SH14 as a detour while lighter vehicles will be able to use a sign posted local road detour. Traffic will be detoured until further investigations can be completed.
- SH16 West Coast Road to Kahikatea Flat Road: Flooding between West Coast Road and Kahikatea Flat Road has caused this section of SH16 to close. There is a local road detour available, but further flooding could affect this route. SH1 remains a more reliable route at this stage.
Please check road and weather conditions before your journey:
For more information on the Auckland storm event see:
Waka Kotahi is providing regular updates to the public as the severe weather continues to affect Aotearoa this week. Our Journey Planner page is updated by our traffic operations centres 24/7 to provide the latest available information on state highway closures and disruptions. Remember to refresh the page when checking the status of highways to ensure the latest updates are displayed.
5:40pm - Iona Holsted, Secretary for Education at the Ministry of Education, has released a statement about Auckland school closures. Here it is in full:
Earlier today the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) asked us to take action to help minimise traffic movement on Auckland roads while vital infrastructure is urgently repaired.
With the possibility of further weather damage leading to more disruption, the Secretary for Education has directed that schools, kura, early learning services and Tertiary Organisations in the Auckland region (Wellsford to Pukekohe) to close for physical onsite attendance and instruction until Friday, opening after Waitangi weekend.
Schools and kura can open remotely for distance learning. Staff as needed can be onsite to prepare for distance learning, and to oversee hostels if required. Tertiary organisations may also provide distance learning.
Early Learning Services may allow the physical attendance of any child whose parent needs them to do so but must otherwise be closed. Early learning services will continue to be funded.
Principals and education leaders have done a fantastic job of readying their schools for opening, and I know that this decision will be upsetting for some of them and for some parents.
I know this is a late announcement that will cause disruption and I thank the sector in advance. We need to get Tamaki Makaurau back up and running as quickly as possible.
5:35pm - Here's an update from Waka Kotahi / NZ Transport Agency on roading contractors who will be monitoring for more widespread rainfall:
Waka Kotahi roading contractors will be closely monitoring the State Highway network as further heavy rain is forecast to spread down the North Island.
Contractors have continued today clearing slips and debris to minimise travel disruption to the most affected roads around the upper North Island.
Regional manager of maintenance and operations Jacqui Hori-Hoult says while the objective is ensuring roads remain open and passable, there is a priority to also ensure everyone's safety when they use those roads.
"As an example, contractors have worked hard to clear some slips and debris on SH1 at the Brynderwyns, but because there's a very real risk of further slipping at any time, we've made the difficult decision to keep the stretch closed for now.
"Unfortunately even if further rainfall isn't as intense as the weekend's rainfall, the ground is already sodden, and so we should expect further movement.
"In many places there may be road works, with lower speeds in place or stop / go controls.
"Meanwhile, SH25A in the Coromandel will be closed for quite some time. Plans are being worked on for a longer term solution, but that solution will require drier, warmer weather.
"Metservice has issued a red warning for both Northland and Coromandel, which unfortunately may cause further disruption to the transport network. Contractors will do their best to keep roads open and minimise that impact, however short notice closures may need to take place.
"If you can avoid travel, please stay home. If you're driving in the forecast heavy rainfall, please drive to the conditions, which means keeping a safe following distance and dropping your speed and watch for flooding and other debris on the road," says Ms Hori-Hoult.
5:30pm - Here's an update from Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's office on the flood clean-up:
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has announced three practical steps Auckland Council is taking to help Aucklanders with the big Auckland clean up.
"Home-owners, families, flatmates, neighbours and volunteers began the big Auckland clean up as soon as Saturday morning and now it is time for Auckland Council to step up our efforts to help," Mayor Brown said.
"This is probably the number one issue Aucklanders affected by the floods have raised with me, Councillors and Local Board members - and we have given clear instructions of what Aucklanders expect.
"First, from today, Aucklanders affected by the floods can drop off storm-related waste for free at nine participating transfer stations throughout the region. This will be an honesty system and please don't get in the way of your neighbours who may be in greater need than you - and please phone 0800 22 22 00 to give your name and address first.
"Second, over 300 council staff and contractors are working from today to remove storm-waste from roadsides. This should be a last resort and only put stuff on the roadside if you have no vehicle to get to a transfer station and no other way of disposing of it - and after you've called 0800 22 22 00 to talk about other options.
"Third, in those streets with the highest need, the council is arranging skips and volunteers to help. More details of where and when will be announced at tomorrow's 8am briefing.
"It is important to remember that some insurance companies won't cover you for property you throw away before they assess your claim - so be sure to talk to them first, before you do anything. And insurance companies might also pay for removals costs - so check that too."
The Mayor has been advised by Auckland Council Waste Solutions that regular rubbish and recycling collections will occur as normal, under the amended schedule given today is a public holiday. The only reason rubbish and recycling won't be collected is if it is unsafe to do so.
5:20pm - On Auckland school closures, Newshub has repeatedly tried to contact the Ministry of Education to get an official statement from them on this.
Emails, calls, and texts to them have gone unanswered.
5:15pm - Auckland Grammar School says it will remain open tomorrow because the school "has received no communications from the Ministry of Education" that supports closures.
"As communicated with you yesterday and today, we have spent the weekend preparing our campus to be open tomorrow," Auckland Grammar School principal Tim O'Connor said in an email to parents that Newshub has seen.
"We will continue with our plans to be open for instruction from 9am tomorrow, unless we are given a directive that we are not permitted to do so.
"At this point we have not received such an instruction, thus please continue to prepare your sons for school as normal tomorrow. Should this change, I will communicate with you again this evening."
5:10pm - ACT leader David Seymour says it is "impractical and infuriating" that all Auckland schools are closing for a further week.
"The Government forcing every Auckland school to close for a week because 20 schools are flood damaged is dictatorial, impractical, and infuriating. With everything parents are facing, this last minute decision is the last thing they need," he tweeted.
"Not to mention, kids actually need to be at school learning after the past three years of disruption. Prime Minister Hipkins should be owning the decision, reversing it, and letting school Principals, who actually lead schools, make the decision for their school community."
5pm - Here's an update from Northland Civil Defence Emergency Group:
MetService New Zealand has upgraded Northland to its first ever Red Heavy Rain Warning, as well as a Severe Thunderstorm and Strong Wind Watch for the region.
Northland Civil Defence Controller Graeme MacDonald says a Red Warning is only issued for the most impactful events and today's is the first time one has been issued for Northland.
MacDonald says with the newly-forecast heavy rain coming on top of the constant heavy rain we’ve been having, streams and rivers may rise rapidly and become dangerous.
"Surface flooding, slips and flood water are likely to close roads and disrupt travel. Flooding of low-lying areas is also possible."
MacDonald says for the 24 hours from 4am tomorrow (Tuesday 31 January) to 4am Wednesday 01 Feb, MetService is now forecasting between 100 to 140 mm of rain, especially in the North and east of the region.
However, he warns localised areas may receive as much as 140 to 220 mm over that same period.
"Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h are expected, but again, localised areas could see 25 to 40 mm/h from thunderstorms."
Forecasters says the rain is expected to start in the north, with potential impacts being seen across the region by Tuesday afternoon.
There is also a Severe Thunderstorm watch from 4am tomorrow (Tuesday) until 4am Wednesday and a Strong Wind watch from 10am tomorrow (Tuesday) to 2am Wednesday.
MacDonald says the Northland Civil defence team is currently monitoring the situation in close contact with MetService and the Northland Regional Council Hydrology team.
"This afternoon we met with all three of Northland's district councils, local emergency services and other key stakeholders and we are all preparing to respond if need be.
"With this new warning the key message to Northlanders is to please stay prepared, have a plan in case you need to evacuate, keep up to date with the lasted information and weather conditions, and most importantly avoid any non-essential travel tomorrow and potential Wednesday morning - if you must drive, please drive to the conditions and keep an eye out for hazards."
MacDonald says things are changing quickly with this weather system and urges people to keep up to date at: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home#upper-north
Key preparations you can make:
- Secure outdoor furniture and structures
- Relocate items from any areas of your property that are prone to flooding
- Relocate stock from flood prone areas and bring pets inside
- Have supplies including food and medications ready in case of any power outages or if you are isolated for a period
- Have a grab bag and a plan in case you need to evacuate
- For more tips on preparing for severe weather check out: https://getready.govt.nz/en/emergency/storms/
MacDonald says if you feel you, your family and/or your property are at risk, immediately contact emergency services on 111.
He says Civil Defence will be keeping a close eye on the weather as it develops and will post any key updates on its Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/civildefencenorthland
Other Useful links:
- To check for road closures and delays on state highways: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/regions/1 or follow Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency - Northland
- For local roads check your local council’s pages:
- Whangarei District Council
- Kaipara District Council
- Far North District Council
- For power outages check:
- Northpower: https://northpower.com/electricity/current-outages
- Top Energy NZ: https://outages.topenergy.co.nz/
To check if your property may be in a flood prone area or exposed to potential hazards check: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/e426127ba8324f068a43a68c69b3d27a
4:45pm - A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Buller and Hurunui.
These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the westnorthwest, and are expected to lie near Lewis Pass and Hanmer Springs at 5pm and 5:30pm.
"These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain and hail," MetService said.
"Torrential rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous.
"Hail can cause damage to crops, orchards and vines and may make driving conditions hazardous."
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in force for Marlborough, Nelson, Buller, Canterbury Plains, and Canterbury High Country.
4:30pm - On Auckland schools, Secondary Principals' Association president Vaughan Couillaut has told Newshub all Auckland schools will remain closed until February 7.
Newshub's been told it's a directive from the secretary for education following a request by NEMA to keep traffic off the roads to allow them more time to assess the damage.
4:26pm - Kelleher said there is always chances to learn from their response, and added there is always a review after each emergency incident.
But at the moment, they are focussed on what's happening at the moment.
This press conference has now finished.
4:23pm - Kelleher is acknowledging the large amount of work that's going on in the flood response.
On the stickering of homes, Kelleher said people who need additional support because their homes are stickered can access this.
4:18pm - There are now 69 buildings that have been red-stickered, meaning no one can go inside it.
4:15pm - Kelleher has just confirmed that all schools, kura, early learning centres, and tertiary institutes in Auckland will shut until February 7.
This was information they received from the Ministry of Education.
4:13pm - Sarah Bryant from Auckland Transport is now speaking.
Over the next few days when there is more heavy rain, she is urging people to be prepared for travel disruptions, especially during peak times.
4:12pm - NEMA's director of emergency management, Roger Ball, is now speaking at the press conference.
He said looking ahead over the next few days, he sees some "significant risk" for some communities. He is looking at one they can do to support them.
4:09pm - Griffiths is urging people to take this red heavy rain warning seriously.
She said things can and do change, so even people in an orange heavy rain warning area should keep a close eye on weather warnings.
4:05pm - Auckland Emergency Management controller Rachel Kelleher has arrived. Alongside her is Georgina Griffiths, local meteorologist for Auckland with MetService, who is speaking first.
Griffiths reiterated the red heavy rain warning, that was announced earlier.
She said this rain is falling on already sodden ground.
The red warning means people should expect flooding to happen quite quickly when rain does come.
3:45pm - In about 15 minutes, Auckland Emergency Management will speak to media and give an update.
You'll be able to watch that in the video player above.
3:35pm - Here's an update from Auckland Emergency Management on support for communities that's available:
Rural support
We have reports of severe flooding and landslips impacting rural areas. We are working with MPI and Rural Brigades of Fire and Emergency New Zealand to reach out to others in the sector to understand rural impacts. We stand ready to help where we are needed. Information on support is available on the Our Auckland website.
Transport
With more rain anticipated in Auckland over the next 48 hours we are expecting our roads and public transport to be under pressure, especially around peak travel times. For the latest information on road closures and public transport please check the AT website – at.govt.nz/weatherwatch
Landslips and flooding has closed multiple roads in the region, including sections of both routes north, SH1 and SH16. Access is being restored but is difficult to maintain due the ongoing weather and additional land slips
Auckland Airport has advised they continue to experience delays and cancellations, which is impacting passengers already within the terminals. Support is being provided to Auckland Airport to assist them with the welfare requirements of stranded passengers.
Water safety
Healthy Waters has advised that all Auckland beaches have been moved to “black” status on the SafeSwim website and are not recommended for swimming.
Aucklanders are also being advised to avoid swimming at beaches due to possible contamination, and to follow the SafeSwim website to stay up to date.
We have also received some reports of debris in coastal waters so care should be taken by anyone boating.
Return to school or work
As we come towards the end of the long weekend, people are urged to think about what the severe weather warnings means for the return to school and work tomorrow.
The situation remains volatile. We’re dealing with an active weather front and we’re looking at more heavy rain tomorrow and later in the week. We also have a compromised transport network with several road closures and additional rain is likely to exacerbate this.
Businesses should consider their operational requirements and make an informed decision working arrangements for staff.
Please check with school or educational facilities directly for their most up to date advice.
If you were affected by the floods and need information, advice or support, you can contact the following service providers:
- To report flooding, damage to drains, or stormwater issues, please phone us on 0800 22 22 00.
- To report slips on private land contact the landowner, or if you are the landowner, your insurance company.
- 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.
- If your life is at risk, phone 111.
- If you need urgent accommodation assistance, phone us on 0800 22 22 00.
- For welfare assistance you can phone the Ministry of Social Development on 0800 400 100
Civil Defence Centres
Those who need to evacuate and cannot stay with friends or whānau can go to a Civil Defence Centre or phone us on 0800 22 22 00:
- West: St Leonards Road School, 15 St Leonards Road, Kelston
- North: Massey University Albany Campus, Sir Neil Walters Lecture Theatre, Massey University East Precinct, Albany Expressway SH17
- South: Manu Tukutuku, 32 Riverton Drive, Randwick Park
Bring with you any essential items you may need, e.g. medication, warm clothing, and baby items.
Community info hub
A pop-up community and agency information hub will be open at the Māngere Memorial Hall, 23 Domain Road, Māngere Bridge on Monday 30 January 2023, 8am – 8pm.
Agencies and community groups, alongside Auckland Emergency Management, will be there to provide needs assessments and offer support, including accommodation if needed.
3:20pm - Brown says the size of this flood is "unprecedented".
"We didn't realise there were 25 New Lynn floods. We didn't realise there are five more days of this coming," he said.
The press conference has now finished.
3:17pm - Brown says in the long-term, "we need to learn lessons" from this flooding.
"This may not be the last," he told reporters.
3:13pm - "I'm certainly not going to resign".
That's what Brown said after he was asked whether he's feeling pressure from those who are criticising his performance during the flood response and are asking him to step down as mayor.
3:10pm - Brown says he's asked authorities to consider telling schools and businesses to stay shut on Tuesday.
3:07pm - Back to Wayne Brown's press conference, he said he accepts that communication was "not good enough", especially on Friday night, from him and his office.
He is commissioning a full, independent review into this.
3:05pm - MetService has upgraded a heavy rain warning to red for the following areas:
- Northland
- Auckland north of Orewa
- Coromandel Peninsula.
"This rain is expected to cause dangerous river conditions and significant flooding," MetService said. "Slips and floodwaters are likely to disrupt travel, making some roads impassable and possibly isolating communities."
3:03pm - Brown gave some numbers of how many people have been affected over the past few days:
- As of 11am, 400 households needed assistance
- 500 Aucklanders needed accommodation assistance
- 60 people were in emergency accommodation last night
- 40 properties are red-stickered.
3pm - Wayne Brown has arrived.
He said "severe" damage has occurred in every part of the city.
Since Saturday, he said he's been visiting different areas of Auckland every day.
Brown said this is a downpour that no one has ever seen before.
2:55pm - The stream of Wayne Brown's press conference is now in the video player at the top of this page.
Refresh the page if you can't see it.
2:45pm - At about 3pm, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown will speak to media.
We will livestream this in the video player at the top of this page when the feed starts coming through.
2:35pm - Greenpeace is calling for the North Island's heavy rain and flooding event to be named a climate disaster.
"As our friends, family and neighbours across Auckland and the North Island have been battered by unprecedented rain and flooding, it's a visceral reminder that climate change is upon us right now. We need to band together as communities through this disaster, then collectively demand more climate action from our politicians," said Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson.
"Climate change is already impacting us, and people are paying the price. It's not enough for politicians to talk about climate change, they must also act to prevent further climate chaos by cutting climate heating gasses and adapting society to become more climate resilient."
Larsson said the "unprecedented" rain and flooding that's hit over recent days is not only a "terrible sign" of what's to come but is a reminder that climate change is here right now.
"The science is clear that the vast volume of climate-heating gasses now in our atmosphere due to fossil fuels and industrial agriculture is driving the intensity and frequency of extreme climate events like this," Larsson said.
"We need to see the authorities name this for what it is - a climate disaster, and then act to mitigate by cutting climate heating gasses and to adapt by designing more climate resilience into our society."
2:25pm - A new map from MetService shows how heavy rain may hit the country over the next few days.
"Rain moves back eastwards across the north of NZ and there are more Severe Weather Watches and Warnings in place," they said on Twitter.
"Showers and thunderstorms for parts of the South Island for the next few days."
According to the map, some places up in Northland may get 200mm of rain on Wednesday.
2:19pm - The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says State Highway 16 at Makarau, between Kaukapakapa and Wellsford, is now closed due to flooding.
2:13pm - The Fatboy Slim concert planned for Waiheke on Tuesday has been postponed to Thursday.
In a statement, the event organisers said the rescheduling was due to Tuesday's unfavourable weather forecast.
2:08pm - A state of emergency in place for the Waitomo District was lifted on Monday morning but remains in place for Auckland.
"We are wishing Waitomo all the best for the clean up and recovery ahead," the National Emergency Management Agency said.
1:40pm - The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has issued an advisory for Auckland's Harbour Bridge for Tuesday, due to strong winds being forecast.
"Motorists are urged to drive to the conditions, look out for the electronic message boards which will indicate lane closures and reduced speeds, or full bridge closure, and stay within their lane while travelling across the bridge," NZTA said.
"Drivers of high sided vehicles and motorcyclists are advised to avoid the Auckland Harbour Bridge and use the western ring route on State Highways 16 and 18.
"Waka Kotahi is working closely with MetService to monitor wind speeds with maintenance crews out on the network ready to react and close lanes on the bridge if wind gusts exceed threshold levels. The safety of road users is our top priority and we won’t hesitate to reduce speeds, close lanes or close the bridge if necessary."
1:38pm - Auckland Transport is warning of delays to all ferry services on Monday afternoon due to potential debris in the water.
1:30pm - Auckland Zoo says the facility's lower lying areas were singnificantly impacted by Friday's flooding and is not yet able to open.
"As part of day-to-day aspects of looking after the animals in our care, our zoo teams are always on the watch for bad weather, so we can take action to ensure the animals are as comfortable and safe as possible. Friday's weather warning was no different and our teams were on site monitoring the situation throughout the afternoon and into the late evening.
"The zoo's most impacted areas are close to Motions Creek. Normally this creek flows calmly into the zoo through Te Wao Nui (our New Zealand track), past the American alligators and Lizard Lane in the South America Rainforest Track and exits the zoo near some of our bird habitats.
"By Friday afternoon the water was rising to high levels and our teams took a proactive decision to evacuate some of the animal areas near the creek to higher ground. This included the skinks, scheltopusiks and beaded dragons of Lizard Lane, American alligators and New Zealand reptiles.
"Our zoo team's actions to move the animals prior to the flooding, was critical to ensuring that these animals weren't negatively affected by the flood water. Fortunately, the vast majority of the animals in our care are safe and well however we recovered the bodies of two small birds on Saturday - a zebra finch and a kotare - that appear to have been overwhelmed by the volume of rain and waterlogged and appear to be the only casualties of the storm.
"As you can imagine, this clean-up will take several days and until structural and electrical assessments are completed, we are unable to open to visitors. Please check back via our social media channels and website as to when the zoo will be able to reopen."
1:20pm - Mark Lambert, Auckland Transport's interim chief executive, has issued the below statement:
Our thoughts go out to Aucklanders, especially those hit hardest by the flood damage.
We are doing our best to keep Aucklanders moving - but our thoughts are with those impacted directly.
With more rain anticipated in Auckland over the next 48 hours we are expecting our roads and public transport to be under pressure, especially around peak travel times.
This is an unprecedented weather event which means we must respond to changes across our network. Our teams are working hard to clear roads as quickly and as safely possible.
Our network is operational but there are some limitations. Take care when travelling and consider your travel needs if you're heading out tomorrow.
Plan ahead, take care and drive to the conditions. Expect delays on public transport and on our roads.
Be prepared for any further disruptions to your travel.
Our public transport will be operating.
The western and eastern train lines have had slips and services will be affected. KiwiRail are continuing their work to clear the tracks.
Red wind warnings for Auckland Harbour Bridge tomorrow evening means there is the potential for a bridge/lane closure.
Some roads are still closed, but our arterial routes are open. Great North Rd has one lane open in each direction which is a 50 percent reduction in lane availability which will impact travel time.
Rising river and stream levels are now closing roads in Alfriston and Clevedon, along with Waiteitei Rd in Wellsford. Scenic Dr suffered three large slips and there is managed access in place for residents.
Expect delays and visit our website to find out which roads are still closed.
1:10pm - Auckland Civil Defence controller Rachel Kelleher says the siuation remains "volatile" with the transport network "compromised".
1:05pm - Aucklanders are urged to not go swimming at beaches due to contamination, Civil Defence says.
1:05pm - Auckland Airport continues to experience delays and cancellations, Civil Defence controller Rachel Kelleher says.
12:50pm - Civil Defence is due to provide an update on the flooding response at a 1pm news briefing. You'll be able to watch that live in the video above or in the Facebook link below.
12:43pm - Waka Kotahi is also urging motorists in the lower North Island and upper South Island to be prepared for wet weather.
"The Metservice has multiple weather warnings for Wairarapa, Nelson, Tasman and other parts of the upper South Island," the transport agency said.
"A severe thunderstorm watch is in place for Manawatū, Tararua, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson, Buller, Canterbury Plains and the Canterbury High Country between 1pm and 9pm today
"This means there is an increased risk of localised flooding, slips, rock and treefalls across the State Highway networks in these regions.
"Road users should drive to the conditions, use their headlights if visibility is poor, watch their speed and following distances and be prepared for hazards."
12:28pm - The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is advising against any unnecessary travel in Coromandel due to the "hazardous and evolving situation" caused by wild weather.
"Contractors have worked hard to clear a slip on State Highway 25 at Ruamahanga Bay on the Thames-Coast side and the road has re-opened late this morning. However, additional slips are occurring in this area and drivers should proceed with a very high level of caution on the Thames Coast," NZTA said.
"SH25 remains closed between Coromandel and Whitianga due to multiple slips on Whangapoua Hill.
"The road is open south of Whitianga but proceed with caution.
"SH25A is closed for the foreseeable future due to a major collapse of the road. Other local arterial roads through the peninsula are also closed."
12:08pm - Repairs are taking place on the flood-damaged eastern rail line in Meadowbank. Here's a photo sent in from one of our camera operators.
11:34am - The ACT Party is calling for an inorganic waste collection day to assist Aucklanders with the flooding clean-up.
"ACT MPs have been out visiting Aucklanders affected by flooding to distribute hot meals and see how we can help. A common issue is that people have piles of debris and ruined goods that they're supposed to take to the dump, but with no practical way to do so because their cars are damaged too," party leader David Seymour said.
"The council could be practically useful by organising extraordinary inorganic collections in badly affected areas. It would take a load of many people struggling with water damage, a load off their mind.
"An extraordinary inorganic collection would go a long way to easing some of the burden that is being felt by many people across Auckland right now."
Newshub has asked the council if it is considering the idea.
11:30am - Auckland power authority Vector has provided the below update:
Our crews continue to make good progress with the majority of customers having their power restored.
Smaller scale faults continue to come through and we expect this may increase again given the weather forecast for the next few days. The main areas impacted are the northwest and west Auckland - mainly Titirangi, Hobson and Henderson Valley.
Kawau Island has the largest number of premises remaining without power although we know many of these are holiday homes.
There are some roads that still need to be cleared to enable our crews to safely restore power for customers and we are working with Auckland Transport on this.
As mentioned in Vector's update yesterday, Kawau Island is a challenge as we need equipment flown in due to the location of the damaged gear. The helicopter company has advised that they don’t expect it to be safe to fly until Wednesday or Thursday.
We have a small window with tides today to send one of the team by boat which should provide power to a small part of the island to help the community. We are updating impacted residents directly and Civil Defence is aware of the situation.
Any customers across Auckland with welfare concerns should contact Civil Defence directly.
11:12am - Motorists are being told expect ongoing delays as the clean-up continues on major State Highway networks.
"Our priority remains ensuring delays on our network are minimised and that conditions are safe for road users and contractors at these sites," said Waka Kotahi's Jacqui Hori-Hoult. "That means in many places, there will be road workers out with lower speeds in place or stop/go controls.
"If you are driving through, please be mindful of our contractors who may be out clearing hazards off the road and drive to the conditions. Please allow more time for your trips at the moment and be courteous to other road users."
11:07am - Popular Auckland restaurant Cassia sustained major damage during Friday night's flooding and is temporarily closed.
The restaurant's owners are now looking for a new site, as this is the second time the current one has been flooded in the space of a year.
As an interim measure they are doing a small pop up at Sid at The French Café to keep some of the staff busy and to honour existing forward bookings.
10:55am - A man has been arrested for allegedly committing burglaries in Auckland on Sunday during the state of emergency.
"About 8:30pm, a man and a woman were seen allegedly taking products from a vape store which was made insecure in the rising flood waters," Insp Danny Meade said.
"The offenders were observed putting a significant number of products into a van... The man and woman were stopped at the scene by police with the stolen goods in the van.
"A search of the man's vehicle showed a number of other stolen items from another commercial premises nearby which was also insecure as a result of the weather.
"The man will appear before the North Shore District Court facing burglary charges. The woman has been issued a formal warning."
10:49am - A drone has captured footage showing the extent of some of the destructive slips in west Auckland's Titirangi. Watch the video here.
10:42am - The Ruapehu District has also received flooding and numerous slips on its transport network, authorities say.
"The Ongarue and Ohura rivers both reached very high levels over Saturday and Sunday but are now predicted to start dropping throughout today," local Civil Defence controller Clive Manley said on Monday.
"Ruapehu Civil Defence staff have been out around the district checking on communities and infrastructure and will be keeping a close eye on the situation over the coming week with more bad weather forecast.
"We would urge people to prepare for the next period of bad weather expected over the coming days as it will come on top of already saturated ground."
10:30am - In Auckland alone, fire crews were called to 30 flooding events overnight and Civil Defence received nearly 150 requests for flood-related issues.
10:20am - Fire and Emergency New Zealand says it received 24 weather-related callouts in Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty overnight.
10:07am - The below image supplied to Newshub shows the extent of flooding in Te Aroha.
10am - MetService's latest severe weather update suggests thunderstorms are possible for parts of both the North and South Islands on Monday. Heavy rain watches are also in place for the top of the south.
9:53am - Figures that almost defy belief, released by NIWA, show Auckland has now recorded nearly 770 percent of its normal January rainfall and more than 40 percent of its annual rainfall.
9:44am - Wayne Brown requested more experienced staff to help with the flood response, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says, just days after the Auckland Mayor said the council had too many communications employees.
Appearing on AM earlier, Hipkins said Brown's response to the flooding is "not for me to judge" but understands Aucklanders will have a view on that.
9:29am - State Highway 26 north of Te Aroha has now reopened but police say there is still surface water on the road.
"Motorists are asked to drive with extreme care in the weather conditions and avoid travel if possible," a statement said.
9:20am - Community leader Dave Letele has slammed Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and called for his resignation.
Brown's response was an "absolute disgrace" and the Mayor was "out of his depth", Letele told TVNZ's Breakfast.
9:06am - MetService has issued new heavy raining warnings for Auckland (6pm Tuesday to 6am Wednesday) and Northland (4am Tuesday and 4am Wednesday).
Auckland is also under a strong wind watch, while Northlanders are being warned of potentially severe thunderstorms.
8:58am - Waka Kotahi has also provided the below breakdown of North Island road closures:
Northland region
SH1 Brynderwyn to Waipu: This stretch of road remains 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. Light vehicles should detour via Waipu/Mangawhai.
Auckland region
SH16 Helensville to Waimauku: Flooding near Bradly Rd has closed the road. Please expect delays and use the detour available.
Waikato/Coromandel
- SH2 Mangatawhiri to Maramarua: Due to flooding and slips, SH2 is closed between Mangatawhiri Rd and Kopuku Rd. There is a detour available but please allow an extra 30 minutes travel time for the detour and expect delays
- SH2 Pokeno to Mangatarata: Due to a large slip, SH2 is closed between SH25 and SH27. Expect delays through this area and take extra care
- SH25 between Coromandel and Whitianga: There are multiple slips, which has forced the closure of this road overnight. Roading contractors are assessing this area on Monday
- SH25A Kopu to Hikuai: The highway remains closed until further notice following a large section of road collapsing over the weekend
- The Tapu-Coroglen and 309 roads are also closed. Detour is State Highway 2 via Karangahake Gorge. The gorge remains open however Waka Kotahi is closely monitoring for any signs of flooding. The Department of Conservation carpark is closed and we discourage access to leisure facilities during this time
- SH37 Waitomo: SH37 remains closed between the roundabout at SH3 and Fullerton Road. Work is being undertaken to reopen this slip to one lane as soon as possible. It is currently passable for 4WDs and trucks.
Hawke's Bay
SH5 Napier-Taupo: A failed culvert has closed the northbound lane near Tarawera. The road is under stop/go traffic management.
Taranaki
SH43 Stratford to Taumarunui: The large drop out remains but the road is now open and under stop/go traffic management.
8:50am - State Highway 1 in Northland is now closed between the Port Marsden Highway and Marsden Point Rd due to surface deterioration, the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says.
8:42am - The initial response to the Auckland flooding disaster is under fire, with some pointing to a lack of communication from agencies.
And Prime Minister Chris Hipkins earlier admitted to AM host Ryan Bridge Waka Kotahi social staff made an error by logging off while Auckland's motorways turned to rivers.
8:40am - Emergency services received 148 call-outs on Sunday night with up to 60mm of rain falling in some areas, Civil Defence says.
8:36am - The economic impact of the Auckland flooding is still unknown, but the city's Business Chamber has an eye-watering early estimate.
Chief executive Simon Bridges has told AM the effects of the flooding could cost businesses hundreds of millions of dollars.
"It's major," he said. "It's more than tens of millions [of dollars]. I suspect it's more than hundreds of millions."
8:32am - WeatherWatch has reiterated more severe conditions are on the way for parts of Auckland and the upper North Island.
"By Tuesday, low pressure west of Northland and the big controlling high to the east of NZ will see 'squash zone' winds from the north east return, rising to gale - and possibly damaging gusts - later in the day and overnight, easing on Wednesday," the forecaster said on Monday morning.
"Rainfall totals in parts of Northland, Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula may be 100mm to 200mm in the coming days, with those on the edges receiving 50 to 100mm.
"This is more than a month's worth of rain for January and on top of the recent deluge it means there remains a high risk for slips and flooding."
8:27am - About 100 people are still stranded at Auckland's International Airport waiting to board re-scheduled flights.
Airlines were dramatically impacted by a 37-hour shut down after Friday night's flooding filled the airport with 1m of water, leaving more than 2000 travellers stranded.
Carrie Hurihanganui, Auckland Airport's chief executive, told AM airlines are trying to fly everyone out as fast as they can.
8:25am - Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has requested for more experienced staff to help with the flood response, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has told AM.
Hipkins said staff from Wellington are helping to assist where possible.
8:05am - Civil Defence controller Rachel Kelleher says extensive surface flooding and multiple landslips occurred overnight.
7:57am - A Civil Defence press conference is due to start at 8am. Watch it live in the video above or in the Facebook stream here.
7:50am - Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's house received flooding during the Auckland storm, PM Chris Hipkins has told AM.
7:44am - Civil Defence will providing the latest on the Auckland flooding emergency during a news briefing at 8am. You'll be able to watch that live on Three, in the video above or in the Facebook livestream below.
7:37am - Several major roads around the country remain shut due to slips and flooding.
But the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has said it won't be able to provide any deadlines for reopening as it remains in response mode due to ongoing rainfall.
Motorists are being urged to only travel if necessary and to check NZTA's website for the latest road closure information.
7:35am - Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is speaking to Ryan Bridge on AM now. Watch live here.
7:27am - A heavy rain warning that was due to expire in Auckland has now been extended until 9am.
Rain has fallen steadily across the region throughout the night.
Heavy rain watches for Coromandel Peninsula and Waikato have now been lifted, with downpours easing.
MetService has warned Auckland and Northlanders are not out of the woods yet, with more bad weather to come.
7:15am - Heavy rain is expected for northern and central New Zealand on Monday as a strong and humid northeast flow covers the area, with bursts of heavy rain and thunderstorms.
Auckland saw 40-50mm of rain overnight, which is on top of the deluge the city saw on Friday, MetService meteorologist Angus Hines told AM.
Northland will bare the brunt of the bad weather on Monday but could get a reprieve in the afternoon, he said.
7:05am - Interislander's Kaitaki ferry will not be resuming services on Monday, meaning further disruption for those trying to get across the Cook Strait.
An investigation is underway after the vessel lost engine power in the Cook Strait on Saturday evening - putting 800 lives at risk.
Maritime NZ has imposed conditions on Kaitaki, preventing it from leaving Wellington until the initial investigation is complete.
Meanwhile, Interislander is offering full refunds to those impacted by the Auckland floods and unable to make their ferry services this week.
7am - Speaking to AM earlier, Metservice meteorologist Angus Hines said breaks in the rain will be few and far between this week.
MetService's extended forecast shows rain for the North Island until at least Thursday.
6:50am - MetService has extended heavy rain warnings for Auckland and Northland on Monday morning.
Auckland has been told to expect another 20-40mm of rain until 9am, while Northland could get between 30 and 60mm until midday.
"Also, heavy rain is forecast to affect northern New Zealand on Tuesday," MetService said. "New warnings and/or watches will likely be issued for this next period of heavy rain closer to the time."
6:40am - State Highway 2 is shut between Mangatawhiri and Maramarua in north Waikato and a detour is in place.
On the Coromandel Peninsula, SH25 is closed between Waiomu and Tapu due to flooding and between Whitianga and Coromandel Town due to multiple slips.
Meanwhile, a major wash-out will keep SH25A - the Kopu-Hikuai Rd - closed for a long period of time.
For the full list of impacted State Highways, head to the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi's website.
6:35am - MetService meteorologist Angus Hines has told AM more bad weather is on the way.
Periods of rain, thunderstorms and localised downpours are forecast for Auckland and Northland on Monday.
6:29am - Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges says early estimates suggest the flooding will cost the city hundreds of millions of dollars.
Bridges told AM the flooding could force some businesses to close permanently.
6:15am - State Highway 26 north of Te Aroha is closed on Monday morning after the Waihou River burst its banks, police say.
Motorists are being urged to avoid the area.
6am - Slips forced further evacuations in Auckland overnight as the region remains under a heavy rain warning.
At least one house was evacuated in Titirangi, west Auckland - with a family choosing to leave with their dogs after cracks formed in the land around their home.
Also in Titirangi, a carport came down on Otitori Bay Rd.
The heavy rain warning remains in place for the Auckland region until at least 7am.
