Three people are dead and one other is missing after Auckland was hit by torrential rain on Friday, causing mass flooding across the city.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown declared a state of emergency due to the extent of the "damage, displacement and disruption" caused by the weather.
While the rain has eased in Auckland, there is a severe thunderstorm watch in place for the area, as well as for Northland, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, and Taupo.
There are heavy rain warnings in place for the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne north of Ruatoria, and Wairarapa including the Tararua District.
What you need to know:
- Three people have died in the flooding in Auckland and one person is missing
- A state of emergency is in place in Auckland and the Waitomo District
- Mayor Wayne Brown attended briefings with Auckland Council teams early on Saturday morning before meeting with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.
- Auckland Airport has now reopened for domestic arrivals and departures. International arrivals and departures will begin again on Sunday
- Sir Elton John's concert at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium was cancelled on both Friday and Saturday night
- Laneway Festival has also been cancelled
- Authorities are urging people to only call 111 if lives are in danger
- Aucklanders are being told to stay at home today if it is safe
- Here is a list of road closures across Auckland
Civil Defence Centres
West: St. Leonards Road School, 15 Saint Leonards Road, Kelston
North: Massey University Albany Campus, Sir Neil Walters Lecture Theatre, Massey University East Precinct, Albany Expressway SH17
South: Mana Tukutuku, 32 Riverton Drive, Randwick Park
- For more information visit here.
These live updates are now over.
9:50pm - MetService has issued its evening update of Severe Weather Warnings.
9:15pm - The Interislander ferry is now docking in Wellington after it suffered power failure in the Cook Strait.
9:08pm - MetService has updated its severe weather warnings, which include heavy rain warnings for the Coromandel Peninsula, areas of the Bay of Plenty, and Gisborne north of Ruatoria.
Heavy rain watches are also in place for Auckland - including Great Barrier Island, Taupo, and Hawke's Bay south of Wairoa.
9:00pm - Auckland Emergency Management is reminding Aucklanders more wet weather is forecast for the region.
It comes after MetService issued a Heavy Rain Watch for Auckland and Aotea Great Barrier Island, valid for Sunday.
"We want people to keep themselves safe, keep an eye on upcoming weather reports and to stay home if it is safe to do so," said Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) duty controller Rachel Kelleher.
"Roads and infrastructure around the region have been impacted and are being assessed as quickly as possible; Auckland Council's building inspection teams are on the ground scoping the damage to people's properties.
"Overnight our advice remains the same, please stay at home if it is safe to do so and avoid any unnecessary travel. If you do need to evacuate, please do not drive through floodwaters and remember to take essential items with you."
8:47pm - With no flights out of Auckland Airport until Sunday, stranded Australian tourists are being forced to sleep at the airport.
"We handed back the rental car, we ain't got money to go get another car, we haven't got money to go stay somewhere. So we're here," one told 7 News.
8:30pm - Waitomo District Mayor John Roberston has declared a State of Emergency for the Waitomo District.
The State of Emergency was signed at 7:05pm and comes into effect immediately. It expires in seven days.
Mayor Robertson says the district has experienced widespread flooding and heavy rain, with reports of flooding, slips and inundation. Residents currently impacted by flooding are also being evacuated.
"The situation in Waitomo is serious, and with nightfall upon us and more rain expected, it's important we are prepared and have the right controls in place to provide help and support, including further evacuations," he said on Facebook.
Mayor Roberston has been closely monitoring the situation alongside Waitomo District Council's Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Team.
The declaration was signed following formal advice from CDEM Duty Controller Wayne Allan.
It enables emergency services and response agencies to draw on resources, and enact additional powers, to assist those affected.
Infrastructure and emergency services have been working throughout the day to assess and manage the impacts of the weather event, including water infrastructure and roading.
For safety reasons, residents are being urged to stay at home and not venture out into the weather.
"This weather is here to stay for the next while. I urge you to stay safe and do not venture out into this weather - it is not safe," says Mayor Robertson.
"If you need help, please contact our call centre on 0800 932 4357.
"Our Civil Defence communications officer will keep our community updated via Waitomo District Council's Facebook page and website."
8:04pm - The Interislander ferry Kaitaki is now on its way to the Kaiwharawhara ferry terminal in Wellington.
"The vessel is moving under its own power, but is being accompanied by tug boats as a precaution," says KiwiRail chief executive Peter Reidy.
"The vessel is travelling slowly, so will take time to reach the wharf. It is currently expected to arrive at Kaiwharawhara shortly after 9pm this evening."
7:45pm - The Auckland Art Gallery has been forced to close "for the foreseeable future" after its building was affected by surface flooding and water entering the lower levels.
"As kaitiaki (guardians) of art, it is our priority to manage the safety of our nationally significant collection and heritage building," it said on its website.
"In the coming days, our focus will be looking after our staff, caring for our collection and ensuring that our building is safe. We will update our website and social media pages once we have confirmed a date to reopen.
"We apologise for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming you back through our doors soon."
7:25pm - Auckland Zoo says while it experienced "unprecedented" flooding overnight, the animals close to Motions Creek were relocated prior to the worst of the flooding and are safe, sound and accounted for.
"We will remain closed for the next two days as we work to tidy up the affected areas, and will confirm via our website and social media channels if there are any changes to our opening date," the zoo told Newshub in a statement.
"We will likely be able to provide some photos in the next few days. I'll let you know as soon as I have more information."
7:10pm - Newshub's Alexa Cook is on the south coast of Wellington, near where the engine of the Interislander cut out.
She says both Land Search and Rescue New Zealand and the 4WD Club are at the ready for a rescue.
There are about 20 4WD vehicles and 20 search and rescue staff, plus an ambulance and police.
7:05pm - Police say they will be carrying out extra patrols in flood-affected parts of Auckland.
"With a number of people unable to return to their homes at present, Police are re-deploying available staff to help," a police spokesperson said.
"They will be conducting reassurance patrols on streets and at vulnerable properties.
"We understand many people will be worried, and these patrols aim to help bring some piece of mind for those who can't yet get home.
"Neighbours are urged to look out for each other and call Police if they see anything suspicious.
"Call 111 if you see suspicious activity as it happens, or 105 if it's after the fact."
7pm - The Auckland Regional Public Health Service is warning people to avoid floodwater where possible and says children should not play in it.
"In addition to the danger of drowning and debris, floodwater may also be contaminated with sewage, faecal matter, farm run off and other hazardous materials. There are many potential health risks from this, including gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and vomiting), skin infections and eye infections," they said.
"If you have contact with flood water, flooded property or items contaminated with flood water, you should wash your hands with soap and water and dry them thoroughly afterwards. You should also do this after going to the toilet and before preparing or eating any food. Throw away all food and drinking water that has come in contact with floodwater, including things stored in containers."
If you feel unwell after coming into contact with floodwater, contact your doctor or call Healthline for free on 0800 611 116.
6:45pm - The police have blocked off the road to Red Rocks, which is on the southern coast near Wellington.
6:35pm - Here is an update from KiwiRail chief executive Peter Reidy on the Interislander. Interislander is owned and operated by KiwiRail:
The 2:15pm sailing of Kaitaki from Picton temporarily lost propulsion power near the end of its journey to Wellington.
The ferry has dropped anchor and is sitting off Wellington's south coast.
The approximately 800 passengers plus 80 crew onboard are safe, however, as is standard practice, life jackets have been issued as a precaution.
Tug boats have left Wellington and will be used to assist if required as Kaitaki makes her way back to the Kaiwharawhara terminal.
We have notified authorities and set up a team to coordinate our response to this situation.
We are focused on ensuring the comfort and wellbeing of passengers, are keeping them updated, and will offer additional support when they arrive into Wellington.
We will be investigating the cause of the temporary loss of power.
6:30pm - Newshub reporter Alexa Cook has been in touch with an Interislander ferry passenger, who told her the all the lights flickered and then it went silent as the engines cut out.
This passenger also confirmed power had since been restored on board.
6:20pm - The engines are now on again on the Interislander ferry.
According to a passenger on board, two out of four engines are back and the toilets are working again.
The captain told those on board: "[It] is going to take a while to raise two anchors but we expect to be underway into Wellington shortly."
Another passenger said they can "feel movements" on the ferry now.
6:15pm - Police say there are reports of slips on State Highway 2 at Te Karaka, completely blocking the highway.
"Motorists should expect long delays while contractors clear road, and anyone who needs to travel in the region is urged to take care," a police spokesperson said.
"Motorists are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website – www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz – before they travel for real-time travel information, and updates on delays, roadworks and road closures."
6:10pm - Auckland Council is keeping a regularly updated list of their facilities that have shut due to the weather.
6:05pm - Another passenger on board the Interislander said it feels "very strange" to be stuck on the ferry.
They said there are head counts of passengers happening.
5:55pm - Police said the quick action of their staff, as well as those at Fire and Emergency, Community Patrols NZ, and nearby community members, saw 30 residents evacuated from a Pukekohe rest home last night as flood waters rose and threatened the facility.
Officers were called there at about 9pm on Friday, where water was gushing down a driveway and into the building.
Police had blocked off the road due to concerns about rising water levels and staff called for vans to be brought to a safe point.
A police spokesperson said those involved in the rescue waded through waist-deep water and brought all the residents to safety. They were transferred by van to shelter at Pukekohe Hospital.
No one was injured during the incident," police said.
Counties Manukau South area commander Inspector Joe Hunter said he is proud of the contribution his staff have made to rescue efforts overnight.
"This is just one example of many where our staff and other emergency services, like our Fire and Emergency colleagues, have gone above and beyond in unprecedented circumstances here in Tāmaki Makaurau," he said.
"We're proud to be part of a group of people that work so hard in dangerous situations to ensure others are safe.
"We will continue to support our lead agencies however we can as the clean-up continues."
5:50pm - NZ Post said due to severe weather, all deliveries have been temporarily suspended in Auckland.
Extreme flooding, road closures and air network disruption are delaying deliveries in the following areas:
- North Island: Northland, Wellsford/Warkworth, Auckland and the Coromandel region
- Inter-island: All items travelling between the North and South Islands.
"Contingency plans are being implemented to ensure items reach their destinations as safely and quickly as possible," NZ Post said on its website.
5:45pm - Passengers on the Interislander ferry are now wearing lifejackets, with one person on board saying tugs are about 30 minutes away.
5:40pm - Here is the latest update from Auckland Airport on international departures:
Due to floodwater damage to processing technology at Auckland International Airport, Air New Zealand is unable to resume international flying out of Auckland until 12 noon tomorrow (29 January).
"It's great news from Auckland Airport that the terminal will be open for flying from 5am tomorrow, but it's unlikely we'll be ready to restart departures after assessments today show significant damage to ticketing, baggage and processing equipment. We have teams working around the clock behind the scenes to continue to get these systems back up and running as soon as possible," Air New Zealand Chief Operational Integrity and Safety Officer Captain David Morgan says.
Some international flights will arrive in Auckland from 7am, but all international passenger departures have been cancelled up until midday Sunday 29 January, with the airline working to reaccommodate customers.
"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. For context, we usually operate around 13 baggage belts, but with the damage we could be down to as few as three. This is why we'll slowly ramp up services as we gain greater confidence that we can deliver these services.
Domestic network back up and running
Air New Zealand restarted flying its domestic and regional routes in and out of Auckland at midday today (Saturday).
"Other than a few delays shortly after restarting, our domestic operation is largely back to normal. Safety remains our top priority. We're working hard to clear the backlog of customers and reiterate that customers not needing to travel should utilise our flexibility policy".
Update on impact to services
The airline estimates it was forced to cancel around 240 flights (165 domestic and regional, and 78 international were cancelled up until midday tomorrow) as a result of the flooding, affecting thousands of customers.
"We understand that this has caused significant inconvenience and disappointment for our customers, and we apologise for the disruption. We're doing everything in our power to minimise the impact and get everyone to their destinations as quickly and safely as possible."
Greater flexibility for those impacted
Air New Zealand has introduced flexibility on all fare types for customers who hold tickets for travel to, from or through Auckland between Friday 27 January 2023 and Monday 30 January 2023 on an Air New Zealand flight.
Domestic customers are able to rebook in the same class of travel between Saturday 28 January 2023 and Monday 6 February 2023 without fare difference, penalty or service fees. International customers have until Monday 13 February. If travel is only available in a higher cabin, the fare differential will apply.
If customers no longer wish to travel, they can choose to cancel their flight and request a credit through 'Manage Booking'.
Customers will have 12 months from the day the credit is processed to book a flight, and another 12 months to travel. For information about credits, please see our website.
5:35pm - One adventurous Aucklander has found a novel way to take advantage of the deluge of rain that has hit the city over the past two days.
With flooding transforming the Auckland Domain sports field into a lake, a passerby captured a kite surfer making the most of it.
Combined with the strong north-easterly winds, conditions were ideal for an afternoon on the water and the enthusiastic kitesurfer capitalised with some high-speed exploits.
5:25pm - The Interislander ferry has lost power in the Cook Strait and passengers are being told to get to emergency stations.
In a video posted to Twitter, an Interislander worker over the loudspeaker is heard telling passengers "to proceed calmly" to these stations.
Lifejackets are also being handed out on board.
The parent of someone on the ferry told Newshub the tugs are on the way from Wellington to bring them in.
It hasn't been confirmed if the incident is linked to the weather but MetService has a strong wind and heavy rain watch in place for Wellington currently.
5:15pm - The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has opened an inquiry into an incident where a Boeing 777 lost control on the ground after it landed at Auckland Airport in bad weather yesterday.
The flight, NZ124 from Melbourne to Auckland, landed at Auckland International Airport during wind gusts and very heavy rain.
Chief investigator of accidents Naveen Kozhuppakalam said shortly after touchdown, the pilot briefly lost directional control and the aircraft veered away from the runway centreline.
"The pilot regained control, completed the landing, and taxied the aircraft to the airport terminal," he said.
"There was damage reported to six runway edge lights and to the aircraft’s undercarriage assembly, including deflation of one tyre.
"We've received no reports of injuries to passengers or crew."
Kozhuppakalam has appointed two investigators.
"The Investigation team have expert knowledge of aircraft operations, engineering and maintenance," he said.
"Their initial work will be to interview the aircraft crew, air traffic controllers, relevant airport staff and other witnesses.
"They will also inspect the aircraft and runway systems, examining the site of the incident, obtaining any electronic recorded data and records."
5pm - Waka Kotahi said its crews are working to reopen state highways affected by the heavy rain.
"The unprecedented amount of rain over a short period of time has had an unusual and severe impact on the roads. One example is on SH16, where overnight our crews carted off 48 truckloads of slip material from one site alone," they said on Twitter.
"Our priority is your safety, and getting highways open as quickly as possible. Many roads have been impacted by surface flooding and slips, and heavy rain is forecast to continue in Auckland. There's also a weather warning in place for the Bay of Plenty.
"Avoid travelling unless you have to. If you have to travel, watch out for localised flooding, slips, rock and tree falls, and other hazards. Delays are likely. You can check road and weather conditions before your journey on our website: http://journeys.nzta.govt.nz."
4:45pm - Here is a wrap of event cancellations and changes across the North Island.
Events from Elton John to multiple music festivals have been cancelled.
4:35pm - Luxon said severe weather events are becoming more common and "we need to accelerate conversations" around climate adaptation.
"It is real and it's happening and we need to be able to build more resilience across New Zealand. I've got every confidence we can rise to that challenge."
4:32pm - National leader Christopher Luxon held a press conference at the same time as Brown and Hipkins.
He said he has been talking to Aucklanders and his thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones.
He wouldn't answer a question about whether Mayor Wayne Brown has failed in his leadership of the crisis. Luxon urged the Mayor to declare a state of emergency on Twitter on Friday.
"I want to be really careful about jumping to conclusions... it was a fast-moving event," Luxon said.
"I personally wanted to see an earlier state of emergency declared."
4:30pm - Here is an update from Vector on the electricity network and outages caused by the flooding:
Work has continued throughout the day to assess the damage to the electricity network caused by the flooding and to reconnect customers, where possible.
Around 3800 customers were without power at 3pm, with 3100 of them in areas that are currently impossible to access.
Fallen trees and slips in the west have blocked the roads, and a bridge has been swept away, including near Laingholm, Bethells Beach, Riverhead, Coatesville, Titirangi and Swanson.
We are working with Civil Defence and NZTA on how to get through, but these areas are likely to be without power for some considerable time. We advise customers to prepare themselves for extended outages in the areas where access is cut-off.
Vector wants to reassure communities that we understand how difficult it is to be without power and our crews will continue to do everything they safely can to respond to outages and restore power to homes and businesses once we can reach them.
We encourage anyone with welfare needs to contact Civil Defence.
Our gas network has also been affected, but to a much lesser extent: we have carried out disconnections at a handful of properties that have been damaged by landslides and collapsed retaining walls.
4:25pm - The Mangaekewa Stream in Waikato is overflowing due to the severe weather in the region, police said.
Due to this, several streets in Te Kuiti are blocked including The Esplanade, Massey Street, Rata Street, Lawrence Street, and Ngarongo Street. Other roads around the area are also blocked.
"Our staff are working with Civil Defence Emergency Management, local councils, and other agencies in response," police said.
"Diversions are being put in place and motorists are advised to avoid the area."
4:20pm - Here is the full update from the Government on the flooding fund:
The Government is providing establishment funding of $100,000 to the Mayoral Relief Fund to help communities in Auckland following flooding, Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced.
"We moved quickly to make available this funding to support Aucklanders while the full extent of the damage is being assessed," Kieran McAnulty said.
"Rest assured that there will be additional funding allocated once we have a better assessment of the full extent of the damage and its cost."
Mayoral Relief Funds help communities bounce back after an emergency. Local communities and councils understand where the immediate needs are and how to help whānau, community organisations and marae.
This is in addition to the total Government support that is available from other agencies such as the Ministry of Social Development.
"It's important that we act quickly to ensure that local authorities are able to help to help those in need. This initial contribution will help those on the ground and more funding will be available once we get a better sense of the communities need," Kieran McAnulty said.
"I want to thank everyone who responded to this event - the Council, Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, marae, volunteers, airport workers and first responders who have all stepped up in a really tough and fast moving situation.
"With the weather remaining unsettled, I encourage everyone in the region to continue to follow advice and instructions from Civil Defence and Council. Stay safe and check in with those around you," Kieran McAnulty said.
4:15pm - Here is an update from MetService:
Following unprecedented rain for the Auckland region, MetService is warning of further rainfall for Auckland, although nothing is likely to match the severity of what has happened in the past 36 hours.
The MetService Red Heavy Rain Warning was lifted this morning and showers with the chance of thunderstorms are forecast for the remainder of the day (Saturday). The State of Emergency still remains in force for the region. There is a MetService Heavy Rain Watch in place for more rain on Sunday 29 January from 6am until midnight.
MetService meteorologist Angus Hines says, "The main rain band has moved off to the east of Auckland for the time being and there are a number of Orange Warnings and Watches in place around the North Island. The main rain band returns to Auckland and Northland later on Sunday but rain will come and go for many areas in the North Island."
While the upcoming rain should not match the intensity of what has been, impacts are expected to be severe and wide reaching because of the saturated ground. More flooding will occur through many northern regions in the coming days, and people should stay abreast of the latest information from local emergency management, Civil Defence and metservice.com.
Recap of Auckland's unprecedent rain event:
The exceptionally humid and rain-laden flow of air over the country bought widespread heavy rain on Friday to Auckland. This combined with torrential localised downpours to produce the wettest day on record in our largest city.
Rain in Auckland began before sunrise on Friday the 27 January and there were steady falls through the day. An Orange Heavy Rain Warning was active all day. There was a risk of thunderstorms and downpours which began to come to fruition during the afternoon. Torrential downpours continued through the afternoon and MetService issued several Red Thunderstorm Warnings. As these downpours continued to spread over Auckland, MetService and Auckland Council jointly made the decision to elevate the warning for the entire region to a Red Heavy Rain Warning.
"The rain that fell around the Auckland region was extreme and unprecedented.," says Angus Hines.
The weather station located at Auckland Airport has an unbroken record of weather observation since 1962 and prior to yesterday, the wettest ever day there amounted to 161.8mm of rain. Yesterday that same site reported 245mm of rain, surpassing the previous record by over 50%. Other weather stations all around the region also tallied remarkable rainfall, with many spots noting between 250-300mm of rain within the day.
Some stations reported over 80mm of rain in an hour. To put this into context, the highest classification for intense rain we have at MetService is 'torrential', which is defined as 40mm of rain or more in an hour. As most people will have seen, this rain has led to widespread, severe flooding in the region.
Other areas:
Many areas in the North Island have also been drenched in the last few days. Some locations, such as the Coromandel Peninsula, Northland, and Gisborne are in the midst of their third heavy rain event of 2023.
"Due to the recent rains, it didn't take long before the impacts of the current severe weather began to rear up again. Slips, road closures and surface floods are common around much of Te Ika-a-Maui/North Island at the moment. People are advised to minimise travel where possible, and if you must travel, then check in with Waka Kotahi/NZTA to see the latest road closures." says Angus Hines.
Looking ahead through the weekend and into next week, more rain is on the way for drenched areas. Drier weather looks to be on the way for the second half of next week after these rainy days.
4:11pm - Hipkins has left to catch his plane.
Brown is facing continued questioning of his handling of the response to this event and said once it started raining, he never left his desk.
He added it was hard to get a full picture of what was happening.
The press conference has now finished.
4:08pm - Hipkins said while $100,000 in flood-relief funding has been made available, there is more on the way.
4:06pm - Auckland Emergency Management duty controller Andrew Clark accepts the communications were slow at the start, however he said this was due to dealing with the crisis.
He said this got faster as the response ramped up.
4:03pm - Mayor Brown said perhaps the problem behind messaging from the Council during this flooding event is that there are "too many spokespeople" in it.
4pm - Hipkins accepts there will be questions about the response but the most important thing is supporting Aucklanders now.
"There will be lessons to be learnt from the experience," he said.
3:57pm - Mayor Brown said declaring a state of emergency isn't something that happens "lightly".
The "trigger point" was people in the field indicating whether they needed additional help.
3:55pm - Clark said there was a "crisis within a crisis" after a number of evacuation centres were unsafe, so they had to find new ones.
3:53pm - Emergency Management duty controller Andrew Clark said they had to assess whether it was viable to send rescuers into flooded areas.
3:50pm - Ron Devlin from Fire and Emergency insists the decision to declare a state of emergency so late in the day was correct.
He said there were "a number" of communication platforms live to send information out.
3:48pm - Brown said there are lessons to be learned and some of the houses affected shouldn't have been built where they are.
3:46pm - Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is now talking.
He said the response to the heavy rain and flooding happened "way quicker" than people imagine.
3:45pm - Hipkins said there will be time to review the response, however for now the focus is on supporting Aucklanders and making sure the full resources of central and local government are available.
3:44pm - Hipkins said the level of devastation in some areas is "considerable".
The maximum level of funding without a Cabinet meeting has been made available and more support will be coming, he added.
3:42pm - MetService is warning that a line of thunderstorms has formed near the western coastline of the North Island.
As a result, they've updated the severe thunderstorm watch to cover western parts of Auckland and southern Northland.
3:41pm - Hipkins warns further rain is forecast and asks people to check in with each other.
He also urged people not to rush to supermarkets and panic buy.
3:40pm - Hipkins said his priority is to ensure that Aucklanders are safe.
He also confirmed there are three fatalities and offered his condolences to their families. He said these deaths underscore the scale of the disaster.
3:38pm - Chris Hipkins is now speaking to media.
He said he's travelled to Auckland to see what additional support is needed today.
He added that it's clear it will be a "big clean-up job".
3:30pm - Auckland Transport is keeping an up-to-date list of road closures across the city.
3:20pm - Here's the latest from Auckland Airport:
Auckland Airport has made the decision to delay the reopening of the international arrivals and departures to allow necessary time to ensure the integrity of key operating systems and to carry out safety checks.
Auckland Airport Chief Executive, Carrie Hurihanganui said: "This has been a significant event that has put our city into a state of emergency, and certainly the airport has never been tested in this way before. But the delay to reopening is necessary to ensure travellers' safety.
"What we've discovered is the flooding overnight has significantly impacted a number of critical components of our airport terminal infrastructure. We have been working with urgency today to try and get everything dry, tested and working again, but our assessment is we need more time to make sure it is all working well and more importantly, safely, before we resume international operations.
"I want to thank all the passengers and others using the airport for their considerable patience and understanding and also say how sorry we are that they have had to experience the extraordinary disruption and discomfort, that for many of them was part of a very long and challenging night. We know there will be lessons to learn out of such a unique event, and our priority today is passenger welfare and getting international travel back up and running as fast as possible."
There will be no international departures from Auckland Airport until 5am, Sunday 29 January and no international departures until 7am, Sunday 29 January. Airlines and Auckland Airport are working with public and private organisations to support stranded passengers.
Advice for passengers at the terminal:
- People should not come to the international terminal for travel today.
- With no international passenger flights to take place prior to 5am tomorrow, people who are currently located at the international terminal are being asked to return home until you have details of your rescheduled flight
- Travellers are encouraged to find Auckland-based accommodation with friends and family if possible
- Auckland Airport is working with all parties, public and private to support stranded passengers
Advice for passengers with travel booked in the coming days:
- Airline schedules may be disrupted for several days due to the severity of this event
- If you are unsure about the impact on your travel plans, please contact your airline or check airline apps or websites.
- Air New Zealand advises customers to check the arrival and departures page on their website for updated departure times. Given the airline will need to realign its schedule and crewing, as well as work through processing challenges, flights are likely to depart later than 5am.
Domestic travel has resumed and is operating normally.
"While we are now working to restart our services, we acknowledge the early stages of this emergency response were challenging for our all passengers.
"We wish to apologise to anyone was unable to access the support they needed. We know this has added to the stress and anxiety of passengers in the terminal."
3:15pm - Police have confirmed a third person has died in the floods.
"We can confirm three are dead and one is outstanding," a police spokesperson told Newshub.
"It appears the third person who died was due to a landslide on Shore Road."
3pm - Chris Hipkins has been flown over Auckland to survey the damage.
2:55pm - Here is some more devastation from the flooding, this time in Pukekohe.
2:45pm - We have updated the video player at the top of this page.
Newshub is holding an hour-long news special as PM Chris Hipkins and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown give an update on the flooding response.
Refresh your browser if you can't see the TV stream. Coverage is due to begin at 3pm. You can also watch it on Three.
2:40pm - General manager of Auckland Emergency Management Paul Amaral has "taken on board" criticism about the perceived lack of speed in communicating emergency information about Auckland's foods via social media.
He said emergency services do not "want to go with inaccurate information," which sometimes means social posting is slower than people desire.
Amaral and FENZ region manager Ron Devlin briefed Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty on the crisis, shortly after their arrival from Wellington to assess the damage.
Hipkins asked whether they knew the number of families that had been displaced.
So far, the number was 70, but the number was likely to grow as more were being assessed.
Amaral said that one challenge is that accommodation in the city is under pressure up because of this weekend’s now-cancelled Elton John concerts. This means alternative accommodation for people is hard to come by.
Quantifying the cost of the damage was difficult to assess.
Amaral said they were looking at options like council-owned facilities like holiday parks.
2:30pm - There are fallen trees and large amounts of debris strewn at Waterview Reserve.
2:25pm - Laneway Festival has beem cancelled.
"We were so excited to deliver this show to our biggest crowd ever in New Zealand," they said.
"Our team has been working around the clock to do everything they can to salvage the site, but the damage and disruption caused by the weather has meant that it is no longer safe to proceed.
"Refunds will be processed automatically by Ticketek and Ticketmaster over the next week – these may take a few days to appear in your account - please have patience with us while we work through this with our wider teams. Our heart goes out to everyone affected by this weather event.
"Stay safe, be kind. We’ll be back in 2024."
2:20pm - Chilling drone footage has revealed the dramatic aftermath of flooding.
In one person's backyard, rubbish from their wheelie bin is strewn across their property and a car has been shoved into their deck.
2:10pm - Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is assessing weather damage from the air.
A photo posted to his mayoral office's Twitter account shows him in a helicopter above the city.
"The Mayor reminds Aucklanders of advice from MetService that another period of heavy rain is possible on Sunday, including the possibility of rainfall accumulations reaching warning criteria during this time, mainly south of about Whangaparaoa Peninsula," the tweet said.
1:55pm - Metservice has released an image showing just how much rain fell in Auckland over the past 24 hours.
1:49pm - Auckland Emergency Management Duty Controller Andrew Clark says clean up is underway after the catastrophic flooding.
"Auckland Emergency Management and Auckland Council is getting a picture of the sheer scale of the impact after yesterday's storm," Clark said.
"Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the New Zealand Police have responded to over 2000 call outs, which included people trapped in homes and cars as a result of the flooding.
"Landslips and flooding have closed multiple roads in the region, including sections of both routes north, SH1 and SH16. Up to 265mm of rain fell in some areas."
Civil Defence Centres are open in Kelston, Albany and Randwick Park, offering respite and support and community-led centres have opened up across the region and are being promoted locally. Around 70 people have visited the Civil Defence Centres since they opened yesterday.
A civil defence emergency was declared yesterday and remains in place.
"We are encouraging people to stay safe, check in on whānau and friends and look after each other."
If you need help:
- To report flooding, damage to drains, or stormwater issues, please log your issue online at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/report-problem.
- 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.
If you were affected by the floods and need information, advice or support, you can contact the following service providers.
Civil Defence Centres
Those who need to evacuate and cannot stay with friends or whānau can go to a Civil Defence Centre.
West: Leonards Road School, 15 Saint Leonards Road, Kelston
North: Massey University Albany Campus, Sir Neil Walters Lecture Theatre, Massey University East Precinct, Albany Expressway SH17
South: Mana Tukutuku, 32 Riverton Drive, Randwick Park
Bring with you any essential items you may need, e.g. medication, warm clothing, and baby items.
Financial assistance
If you have been directly affected by the Auckland floods and you are on a benefit or low income, call Work and Income on 0800 400 100.
Further information about support available from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) can be found on the Work and Income website www.workandincome.govt.nz.
If you have urgent needs as a result of being displaced by the flood, you can look for providers on www.familyservices.govt.nz.
Rubbish and waste
Any scheduled kerbside collections will continue unless a specific area is informed of cancellation.
Water
Watercare is providing regular updates of impacts to the water and wastewater network on its website.
Water from the tap is safe to drink.
Watercare is prioritising overflows that are damaging private property. Most of the clean-up activity will need to occur when the rain stops, as this is when the overflows will stop flowing.
Many beaches around the region have been impacted by wastewater overflows, and swimming is not advised. Check Safeswim for water quality information.
Rapid building assessments
Auckland Council's building inspectors are on the ground conducting impact assessments across the region. This is to understand the scope and scale of any damage, and for us to prioritise rapid building assessments. This will take time.
Transport
Many roads have reopened but there is still damage and some closures around the region. Keep up to date with the latest travel advice by following Auckland Transport on Twitter @AT_TravelAlerts and by checking the Waka Kotahi website.
Cleaning up after a flood
It is important to clean and dry your house and everything in it. Floodwater may contain sewage and other hazardous materials which can contaminate your home.
If your gas meter has been affected by water or debris, contact your gas supplier.
Always work safely when cleaning up after a flood by wearing protective clothing and washing hands thoroughly after clean-up and before handling food.
Keep children and animals away from previously flooded areas until they have been cleaned and made safe.
Take photos and videos of the damage and anything that needs to be thrown away before starting the clean-up, for insurance purposes.
Clean up, drain, and dry inside as quickly as possible. Take out everything that is wet and that can be moved – floor coverings, furniture, bedding, clothing, etc., and put them outside to dry when the weather is fine.
Throw away all food and drinking water that has come in contact with floodwater, including things stored in containers.
Do not eat garden produce if the soil has been flooded. Clean up and remove debris and sprinkle gardens with lime (which can be purchased at garden centres)
1:36pm - Multiple state highways are closed after the flooding. Here's the latest update from Waka Kotahi.
State Highway closures as of 1pm.
SH 1 Orewa to Warkworth, Northbound:
Due to slips and flooding, SH1 is closed between Woodcocks Road in Warkworth and Grand Drive in Orewa. Multiple crews working to clear but the road is not expected to open today.
Expect delays. Access is only via SH16 which is open but with surface issues due to scouring of the road surface.
SH 1 Brynderwyn to Waipu:
Due to a slips the Brynderwyn Hills, SH1 is closed from SH12 intersection to Waipu. Likely to be closed for remainder of today. Expect delays. Freight and heavy vehicles should detour via SH12 – light vehicles via Waipu/Mangawhai.
SH 1 Bawden Rd to Greville Rd:
Due to a slip, SH1 between Bawden and Greville Rd Northbound one lane is open. Expect delays.
SH 1 Northbound Off-ramp to South Eastern Highway: 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.
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:
Due to further cracking at a large washout location, SH25A between Kopu and Hikuai is closed until further notice. The Tapu-Coroglen and 309 roads are also closed.
Detour is State Highway 2 via Karangahake Gorge.
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.
Delays are likely in multiple locations as road crews work to restore state highway routes.
1:22pm - Prime Minister Chris Hipkins will hold a press conference from Auckland this afternoon. You can watch the livestream on Three and online at Newshub.co.nz.
1:21pm - Waka Kotahi has released images of slips and flooding which is blocking roads across the city.
1:15pm - Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has landed at Whenuapai, north of Auckland.
He will be briefed by the Auckland Emergency Management Group Manager on the situation in Auckland shortly.
The situation is said to be stabilising.
Hipkins was travelling with his Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty and a small group of National Emergency Management staff aboard an Air Force C-130 Hercules.
He sat in the cockpit for the duration of the flight, the only part of the plane with sufficient windows to survey the damage.
1:13pm -Waipuna Hospice in the Bay of Plenty has had to evacuate all its patients.
CEO Richard Thurlow said while the building is above flood level, they have taken the precaution of evacuating its patients to partner aged care facility Althorpe.
"All staff are safe and continuing to provide care to patients in the community," Thurlow said.
1:08pm - Air New Zealand's domestic flights resumed at 12pm and an update on international flights is expected later today, according to the airline.
1:00pm - This tweet was posted on Friday but it really encapsulates the unprecedented extent of the flooding Auckland suffered.
12:54pm - Lifeguards rescued 79 people across West Auckland and the North Shore last night.
Search and Rescue (SAR) Squads from Mairangi Bay, Muriwai and Bethells Beach worked closely with police, Fire and Emergency and St John Ambulance to rescue people from flooded homes and workplaces.
On the North Shore, Mairangi Bay SAR squad rescued 69 people from workplaces along Target Road, Wairau Valley between 8:30pm and 10pm. Using inflatable rescue boats (IRBs), the lifeguards ferried groups of five to safety from several shops in the area.
Life guards were then alerted to a search for a missing person near Sunnynook Bus Station who was last seen on a kayak. After searching for around an hour the kayak had been found, but not the missing person and the lifeguards were stood down for the evening.
A further six people were rescued from rapidly rising floodwaters in Ararimu Valley Road in Helensville by lifeguards from the Muriwai SAR Squad. A family of five, including a very young child were rescued through a window of their property and transported by two IRBs to safety. Lifeguards then returned to a second property on the road where an 80-year-old woman was rescued from the second story of her house. The IRBs rafted up on the roof of the first story and assisted the lady from the house, transporting to the waiting police and Ambulance Officers.
A separate group of lifeguards who were returning home around midnight were flagged down by a group trapped by floodwaters on a high-point on Factory Road, Waimauku. They were informed a man was screaming for help in his vehicle, which had started to float in the floodwater. The man made it out of the vehicle, and a lifeguard responded with a rescue tube and helped him back to a point of safety. Lifeguards then provided first aid as the man was beginning to get hypothermic.
The lifeguards then responded to a separate vehicle which hit the flooding at speed and became stuck in neck-deep water. They responded with a rescue tube and rescued a man and two dogs from the vehicle. Another vehicle then did the same thing and the lifeguards rescued the sole occupant from that vehicle as well. After a few hours, the water had reduced and the lifeguards assisted a further 10 people to safety off the high point.
Lifeguards from Bethells SAR Squad were first on scene to assist those stuck at Tram Valley Road in Swanson around 4:30pm. One person was rescued from their flooded vehicle, while a further 10 people in six different groups were assisted to safety. Another group of lifeguards from Bethells SAR Squad responded with IRBs to Waitākere Fire Station to assist Fire and Emergency.
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.
12:49pm - Auckland Transport interim chief executive Mark Lambert said AT is doing everything it can to reinstate public transport after the flooding.
"Our thoughts are with Aucklanders impacted at this time by the extraordinary weather event yesterday and we are doing everything we can with our road maintenance and public transport partners to respond to the event and reinstate transport services," Lambert said.
"Our teams at Auckland Transport have been working overnight to assess the damage from yesterday's floods to our public transport and road networks.
"We have been working with our road maintenance teams and public transport operators to ensure we are doing everything we can to get as many public transport services up and running and roads reopened where it's safe to do so. Overnight and this morning a number of roads have been able to be reopened. There remain approximately 30 road closures across the local road network excluding State Highways."
Lambert said approximately 80 percent of scheduled buses and ferries are operating apart from Hobsonville Point. Trains are not operating because of KiwiRail's weekend rail network closure but there are bus replacements.
"On the road network there are still a range of road closures in place, with Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi maintenance teams working to clear these closures when it is safe and practical to do so.
"After a significant flooding event like yesterday there will be damage that is immediately obvious as well as damage that will take longer to repair.
"It will take time for us to assess and repair the damage caused by yesterday's flooding, so we're asking Aucklanders for their patience as we work through this carefully.
"As always our priority is to keep Aucklanders safe when they're travelling across our city, so there will be ongoing road closures when these are needed to keep people safe," Lambert said.
12:44pm - Postal deliveries have been disrupted for parts of the country due to the severe weather.
NZ Post said all deliveries have been temporarily suspended in Auckland for Saturday.
Extreme flooding, road closures, and Air Network disruption are also delaying deliveries in the following areas:
North Island: Northland, Wellsford/Warkworth, Auckland and the Coromandel region.
Inter-island: A small number of items travelling between the North and South Islands.
"We are continually reviewing the situation and implementing contingency plans to ensure parcels reach their destinations as safely and quickly as possible," NZ Post said.
"However, the delivery of items may be impacted for a number of days, depending on weather and road network conditions. The safety of all our people and those directly responding to the emergency is paramount.
"Our customers can find the latest updates on our Domestic Delivery updates page, and locate parcels through our online parcel tracking. During this challenging time, we ask that customers only call our Customer Contact Centre for critical enquiries only. "
12:41pm - Water tankers are on their way to help people in West Auckland whose water supply was knocked out by a slip.
12:35pm - Further heavy rain is likely for the upper North Island over the coming days, Metservice says.
12:21pm - Mud and trees are covering Little Shoal Bay tennis courts after a slip.
12:18pm - Nearly every beach in the Auckland region is unsafe for swimming after last night's catastrophic flooding.
The Safeswim website, which monitors water quality, shows most beaches have either a black water droplet which means they\ have been affected by wastewater overflow or a red mark which means swimming is not advised.
12:02pm - Eden Park is still flooded on Saturday.
11:57am - Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has departed Wellington for Auckland for a daylong visit to the city.
Flying in an Air Force Hercules to Whenuapai, Hipkins will spend roughly three hours on the ground assessing flood damage in the city before returning.
He will receive a briefing from emergency services, visit some affected communities in West Auckland, and assess the damage from an helicopter.
Changes to the schedule are possible, given the evolving situation on the ground.
In an early morning press conference in Wellington, Hipkins said the rain had "hit fast".
"Aucklanders need to brace for the fact there could be more rain," he said.
11:48am - Fire and Emergency crews responded to 719 weather-related call outs in Waitemata, Auckland city and Counties Manukau between 12.01 am Friday morning and 7.30am today.
District Manager Brad Mosby says there were 2242 111 calls answered by Fire and Emergency staff, which resulted in 2074 calls for assistance during the weather event.
"This was an unprecedented number of calls and we had to prioritise. We had every available career and volunteer crew on the road responding to the most serious events."
These included:
126 rescues of people trapped in cars and houses, or involved in motor vehicle crashes
84 priority-one incidents (where there was a confirmed threat to people)
237 priority two incidents (where there was a possible threat to people)
The rest of the 719 responses comprised private fire alarm activations, structure fires and medical callouts.
Today Fire and Emergency is working through the backlog of around 1355 less urgent 111 calls from last night, contacting callers to see whether they still need assistance this morning.
"We are helping dewater people’s homes and carrying out damage assessment, working closely with Auckland Emergency Management and our emergency services partners," Mosby says.
"I want to thank all our people who’ve been involved with the response effort to assist their communities during this unprecedented event."
11:38am - Tonight's Elton John concert has been cancelled.
In an Instagram post, Sir Elton John said following advice from local authorities and Mount Smart Stadium the concert has been called off.
"Two years ago, I was devastated to have to reschedule my final New Zealand shows and was committed to fulfilling my promise of returning to say a final farewell," Sir Elton said.
"This is a very difficult decision which doesn't come lightly and I'm so desperately sorry to all my fans who bought tickets. Cancelling shows is always the very last resort but the safety of our team, the venue staff, and fans always come first.
"Vendors will be in touch regarding refunds and in the meantime my thoughts are with everyone in Auckland during this extreme weather. Please stay safe. Much love, Elton."
11:36am - Approximately 3500 homes and businesses are still without power, Vector says.
"As of 11am, nearly 23,000 homes and businesses have had their power restored and approximately 3,500 are still without power. We expect that number to fluctuate across the weekend as continued poor weather brings slips and causes more damage to the network," Vector said in a statement.
"We are liaising with Civil Defence and Auckland Emergency Management, as well as with the emergency services. Our focus is on restoring high voltage lines for the first 24-48 hours, followed by low voltage lines serving neighbourhoods and individual homes.
"The worst hit areas are in the north and west of the region and are proving the most difficult to reach and we are sending a helicopter up today to survey the extent of the damage at Kawau Island."
Vector said crews are facing challenges getting to outages to assess the damage, with two crews forced to abandon their cars overnight because of floodwater.
"Their safety and the safety of communities is of utmost importance at all times. Anyone whose home has been flooded should take extra care. It is understandable people will want to return to their homes, however there could be damage to the electrics in their properties."
11:33am -Countdown Mairangi Bay is closed due to flood damage but all of the city's other stores are open.
"Our thoughts are with those communities and families who have been impacted by the devastating flooding across the Auckland region - and the communities also impacted by torrential rain in Northland and Coromandel," managing director Spencer Sonn said.
"At this stage our only store that has been majorly impacted is Countdown Mairangi Bay, which is closed due to flood damage. It’s likely to stay that way for a few days as we clean up and make sure the store is safe for customers and our team. We appreciate our customers’ understanding while we work through this.
"The rest of our Auckland stores will be open today but there may be some disruption on shelves and with online orders as our team gets things back to normal.
"Thankfully, all of our team are safe but we may be a little light on the ground with some of our team staying home due to road closures and other flooding impacts.
"We want to thank our customers in advance for their patience while we work hard to make sure everyone can get what they need."
11:31am - Former Prime Minister and Mount Albert MP Jacinda Ardern has shared a post with information for Aucklanders affected by the floods.
"I'm very conscious that it's been a while since I posted, and there have been a few big things happening. But today the most important thing is everyone's wellbeing and safety - especially across Auckland after such a severe weather event. So this is a post from the MP for Mt Albert!," Ardern said.
"Here are some headline points and tips for the morning that were accurate as at 10am. I'll be sure to post any updates that come through. Till then, stay safe everyone.
"Credit to Auckland Council member @richardhills777 for compiling much of this info so succinctly!"
11:25am - Crews are pumping water out from inside the Auckland International terminal and lift shafts.
11:18am - Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira is closed after the advice from Prime Minister Chris Hipkins to avoid non-essential travel.
"Our facilities team is closely monitoring the building and after an initial evaluation have reported that there is no damage or flooding. The team will continue to closely monitor the building during this weather event," a museum spokesperson said.
11:16am - National leader Christopher Luxon says his thoughts are with the people of Auckland as they cope with a state of emergency and unprecedented flooding.
"I want to extend my condolences to the families of those who have lost loved ones in the floods. Now is the time for all of us to come together as we deal with an incredible weather event. I know as a community we will support each other to help those who are struggling through this event," Luxon says.
"We encourage people to follow Civil Defence advice – stay off the road, stay home if you are safe and able, and check in on your neighbours. It is during times like this we must all come together and help one another.
"There are emergency centres available for those whose home is flooded or unsafe. Please call 0800 22 22 00 if you are in need of urgent accommodation."
11:14am - Bay of Plenty travellers are being warned not to drive unless it is absolutely necessary as the region is battered by heavy rain.
"The rain affecting northern regions is now spreading across the Bay of Plenty, causing multiple slips and bringing down several large trees," police said.
"Roads are blocked and there is already widespread flooding, which is expected to worsen over the course of the day.
"SH2 is closed at Maniatutu with diversions in place, while a landslide is partially blocking SH 29 at Omanawa."
11:08am - BNZ is offering assistance for customers affected by the floods.
Read the full statement below:
BNZ is offering a targeted assistance package to support customers and businesses affected by severe weather and flooding in the Auckland region and Upper North Island.
Available immediately, the assistance package includes:
- Ability to review home lending facilities on a case-by-case basis.
- Access to temporary personal overdrafts to support customers who require urgent access to funds while they await insurance pay-outs. Standard interest rates and credit criteria applies.
- Access to temporary overdrafts for Agri, Business, and Commercial customers up to $100,000, with no application fee. Standard interest rates and credit criteria applies.
- Access to temporary overdrafts of up to $10,000 with no application fee for Small Business customers. Standard interest rates and credit criteria applies.
BNZ Executive COO Partnership Banking, Anna Flower, says "the heavy rain and flooding has caused widespread damage and our message to customers is if you've been impacted and are worried about your finances please get in touch."
"As we have done for BNZ customers in other communities affected by severe weather events, we're offering targeted assistance to help relieve some of the immediate financial pressure so people can focus on the clean-up and recovery.
"There are also a range of other options available, especially for customers who are facing hardship, so I encourage people to get in touch so we can see how we can help," she said.
Agribusiness and Business customers should contact their BNZ Partner directly, Small Business customers can call 0800 BNZSME and all other customers can use BNZ digital services or call 0800 ASKBNZ.
This support is available until the end of February 2023.
Due to the State of Emergency, BNZ will not be opening its branches in Auckland today.
11:05am - Auckland Airport CEO Carrie Hurihanganui was grilled by frustrated passengers during the media stand-up.
11:04am - Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty is heading to Auckland to assess the flood damage.
10:57am - Hurihanganui said the domestic terminal is relatively unscathed from the flooding, while the international terminal is still being assessed.
She noted staff who have worked at the airport for decades said they'd never seen anything even "remotely similar" to Friday's flooding.
10:55am - Auckland Airport CEO Carrie Hurihanganui said many passengers were forced to stay the night in the terminal.
10:53am - Auckland Airport is holding a stand up about the future of flights. Watch the livestream above.
10:52am - Tonight's Fatboy Slim concert in Napier has been cancelled.
Endeavour Live said the concert, which was set for Tremain Park, was cancelled because of the impact of the wild weather on the venue.
"All ticket holders will receive a full refund from MoshTix (please allow 5-7 days for refunds to be processed). Endeavour Live encourages all ticket holders to stay safe and follow the advice from the relevant authorities."
10:49am - AA has also released a statement. Read the full statement below:
As Auckland wakes up to a state of emergency caused by the wild weather of the past 24 hours, AA Insurance is reassuring customers its claims teams are here to help.
To date, AA Insurance has received more than 110 claims relating to storm damage across home, contents and motor. As the full extent of the damage becomes clear, the insurer is standing by with extra team members on deck ready to support customers who need help.
Tom Bartlett, Head of Home Claims, AA Insurance, said "The weather is extremely unpredictable and powerful, which is frightening for people and can cause extensive damage to possessions and property.
"In severe weather your priority must always be your personal safety and that of your family and pets. Our customers can have confidence that our teams are standing by to help work through the process of recovering from and repairing any damage.
"If you need urgent repairs to make your home safe or watertight, or if you need temporary accommodation, please call us right away. For any non-urgent repairs, we encourage our customers to lodge their claim online or via one of our digital channels," Bartlett said.
With the weather pattern moving down the North Island and unsettled weather set to linger into next week, AA Insurance is sharing some tips to help those impacted.
Make sure you, your family and your pets are safe - stay tuned to the latest Civil Defence advice
If water has entered the house, turn off your electricity if it is safe to do so, especially if the water level is high enough to reach power sockets
Do not enter flood water, nor operate cars or appliances that have been flooded until they have been professionally assessed. Only drive if it is essential to do so and keep up to date with Waka Kotahi's website for live updates on road closures
If rural, check fencing on your property is secure (if it is safe to do so), and move livestock to sheltered areas
Take photos of damaged property to help speed up the insurance assessment and claims process. Keep damaged items to be assessed, if safe and practical to do so
Have essential repairs completed and hold onto invoices – this will help get your insurance sorted
After the event, if your power is working, start drying out your home and reducing mould by turning on any air-conditioners, dehumidifiers, ventilation system, or fans
If you're not sure what to do, contact your insurer. We're here to help.
Due to the current weather situation, we remind customers that we are experiencing high call volumes. The safety and wellbeing of your family is our first priority so if you need emergency repairs or accommodation, please call us on 0800 500 216 as soon as possible. You can also lodge your claim online here: claim online.
10:47am - Insurance companies are bracing for thousands of claims after the devastating floods.
One of New Zealand's largest insurers released a statement about the damage.
Read the full statement below:
AMI, State and NZI Insurance are here to help customers affected by the severe weather that affected Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland yesterday and continues to impact today.
By 11am, we are expecting to have lodged 1,100 claims for property damage to both homes and businesses, along with flooded vehicles, and we expect that number to rise as customers are able to assess damage, and people who have been evacuated are able to safely return home.
Executive General Manager Claims for AMI, State and NZI, Wayne Tippet said, "Our Major Event Response team has been supporting customers since last night, with temporary accommodation and other emergency support.
"We have a large team ready to assist people with their claims and give any advice they may require. We are here to help any of our customers who need us.
"We encourage customers who are safe and out of immediate danger to contact us online or over the phone so we can provide support and lodge claims.
"We will have our assessors on the ground in affected areas as soon as it is safe to do so.
"If you are outside of the affected region and have a non-weather related or urgent claim, please hold off from contacting us today."
How to make a claim
Often during a storm or flood, it's difficult to know the full extent of damage to your home, business, vehicle or contents, especially if you need to leave your property.
We encourage AMI, State and NZI customers to get in touch once they have had a chance to assess the damage and it is safe to do so.
The quickest way to make an insurance claim is online, but they can also give us a call.
NZI customers should contact their broker.
Disaster Claims Hubs
We have information relating to issues such as emergency repairs, flooded carpet, evacuations, temporary accommodation and the process for lodging claims on our Disaster Claims Hubs:
AMI: https://ami.custhelp.com/app/disaster-claims-hub
State: https://statenz.custhelp.com/app/disaster-claims-hub
NZI: Contact your broker. For general advice, go to https://iagnz.custhelp.com/
Insurance tips
What to do if your property is damaged during a storm:
Ensure you and your whānau are safe first. Follow all advice from Civil Defence.
If you need to make a claim, as soon as you're able to let us know about any damage to your property, the sooner we can help – especially if your home becomes uninhabitable or we need to arrange temporary accommodation for you, your family, and your pets.
Be careful not to return to your home or business until it's safe to do so and avoid anything that could potentially cause more damage.
You can do temporary 'make safe' repairs to make your home safe and weathertight, such as boarding up broken windows, just try to take photos before you do so. Where possible, please contact us before you engage a tradesperson or make any non-urgent repairs.
It's okay to start to clean up if you've been affected by flooding, especially if it can prevent further damage, but remember it's best to treat all flood water as blackwater (i.e., contaminated with sewerage), so make sure you stay safe by wearing heavy duty gloves, boots, and a face mask.
If water has entered your home or business, turn off the power at the mains and ensure an electrician has checked the power supply before turning it back on.
If your home or business is without power, you should turn your appliances off at the wall in case of a potentially damaging power surge.
What to do if your vehicle is damaged during a storm:
If your windscreen has been damaged or your car has been flooded, please don't attempt to drive it.
There is no hurry to make a claim, but as soon as you're able to let us know about any damage to your vehicle, the sooner we can help – especially if you have cover for a temporary vehicle that we can arrange for you.
If your vehicle needs to be towed, remember to remove any personal items if you can, and make sure it's securely locked with no keys left inside – the tow team will get in touch to pick your keys up instead.
Also, if you have contents insurance, let us know if any items in your car were damaged.
10:41am - Auckland Airport will be holding a stand-up about the damage at 10:50am. Watch the livestream above.
10:40am - Auckland Airport will reopen for domestic arrivals and departures from 12pm and international travel for departing flights from 5pm at the earliest. There will be no arriving international flights until 4:30am on Sunday.
Auckland Airport said its staff are currently working hard to asses and fix the damage inside terminals.
"It's been a really long and challenging night. To travellers who were stranded inside the airport as the floods hit fast – we acknowledge the frustration and thank you for your co-operation with our staff as they worked to keep you safe as a first priority," Auckland Airport chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui said.
"Any passengers who need or want to remain inside the terminal until they have made accommodation or travel arrangements are certainly welcome to do so.
"We know with last night's unprecedented weather event, there is widespread disruption across the city and it may take a while for people to get home. Food and beverage operations are open and staff assistance is available.
"Our teams, and those of our airport partners, continue to work around the clock to make sure we can get our domestic and international terminal operations open safely as soon as possible."
Auckland Airport said more than 2000 people stayed overnight at the terminals due to flooding.
"We have transport options, including bus transport to the Park & Ride, taxi and ride share, available from outside the international terminal so passengers can safely return home or to accommodation.
"Two international aircraft remain with their passengers in the gate lounge or onboard waiting to depart when it is safe to do so. Airline staff are taking care of their welfare.
"We encourage travellers to get in touch with their airline or check their airline travel app for the latest information about their flights."
10:19am - Auckland Emergency Management is assessing the damage to Auckland from last night's flooding.
Duty controller Andrew Clark says Auckland was "clobbered on Friday" with the city seeing its wettest day on record.
"We won't start to get a good idea of numbers affected until later today and, even then, this will take time, with information still coming in and many assessments to complete," says Andrew.
"We understand Aucklanders will be anxious to return to their homes to survey the damage, but we urge them to do so with caution.
"Please do not drive through floodwaters and remember hazards and debris could lurk beneath the surface, and floodwaters may be contaminated.
"If your property has been damaged, please take pictures for your insurance company and contact them as soon as you can," he says.
Civil Defence Centres are open in Kelston, Albany and Randwick Park, offering respite and support and community-led centres have opened up across the region and are being promoted locally.
Civil Defence Centres
West: St. Leonards Road School, 15 Saint Leonards Road, Kelston
North: Massey University Albany Campus, Sir Neil Walters Lecture Theatre, Massey University East Precinct, Albany Expressway SH17
South: Mana Tukutuku, 32 Riverton Drive, Randwick Park
Bring with you any essential items you may need, e.g. medication, warm clothing, and baby items.
If you need help
To report flooding, damage to drains, or stormwater issues, please log your issue online at www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/report-problem.
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.
Water supply and wastewater network
Watercare's water treatment plants are operating and your water is safe to drink.
Residents living in Titirangi, Woodlands Park, Oratia, Greenbay, Waima and elevated sections of Scenic Drive are likely to have no water or low water pressure for at least the next 48 hours.
A 30-metre-long section of water pipe that ran along Scenic Drive in Titirangi was washed away with the road due to a landslide. It will be challenging to repair due to the extent of the damage and access to the site.
Watercare is sending out water tankers to the area. Customers will be able to fill up their water bottles from the tankers.
Residents on the North Shore are asked to reduce their water use. Please keep your showers short and do not use your washing machines. This is to reduce the volume of wastewater leaving your properties.
A wastewater pump station on Wairau Road that serves several suburbs on the North Shore has been flooded. This means the pump station is overflowing into a nearby waterway.
The wastewater networks and treatment plants have been overwhelmed by stormwater, causing numerous overflows across Auckland.
Watercare is prioritising overflows that are damaging private property. Most of the clean-up activity will need to occur when the rain stops, as this is when the overflows will stop flowing.
For more information, visit Watercare's dedicated information page.
Cleaning up after a flood
It is important to clean and dry your house and everything in it. Floodwater may contain sewage and other hazardous materials which can contaminate your home.
If your gas meter has been affected by water or debris, contact your gas supplier.
Always work safely when cleaning up after a flood by wearing protective clothing and washing hands thoroughly after clean-up and before handling food.
Keep children and animals away from previously flooded areas until they have been cleaned and made safe.
Take photos and videos of the damage and anything that needs to be thrown away before starting the clean-up, for insurance purposes.
Clean up, drain, and dry inside as quickly as possible. Take out everything that is wet and that can be moved – floor coverings, furniture, bedding, clothing, etc., and put them outside to dry when the weather is fine.
Throw away all food and drinking water that has come in contact with floodwater, including things stored in containers.
Do not eat garden produce if the soil has been flooded. Clean up and remove debris and sprinkle gardens with lime.
10:15am - MetService has lifted the red heavy rain warning for Auckland that was in place on Friday. But the forecast has issued a new heavy rain watch for Auckland including Great Barrier Island.
Read the full forecast for Auckland and the rest of New Zealand below:
Auckland and Northland short forecast - Saturday
Occasional showers, some heavy with a possible thunderstorm.
North Island extended forecast - Sunday
Rain for most, with possible heavy and thundery falls through the day.
Rest of New Zealand short forecast - Saturday
- The remainder of the North Island: Rain, with heavy falls possible, easing in Coromandel during the morning, and in Waikato and Waitomo in the evening. A risk of thunderstorms about and north of Hawke's Bay to Taranaki. Southerly gales in Kapiti and Wellington
- Nelson and Marlborough: Mainly fine, but cloudy with showers about the Kaikoura Coast and Ranges until afternoon. Scattered rain developing in the evening. Southerly gales about the Marlborough Sounds
- Canterbury and north Otago: Isolated showers retreating inland this morning and fine breaks developing. Remaining showers inland clearing on Saturday evening
- The remainder of Otago, also Buller, Westland, Fiordland and Southland: Fine, apart from areas of morning cloud
- Chatham Islands: Cloudy periods.
10:12am - Several roads across the city have reopened, Waka Kotahi says. For full road closure details click here.
10:08am - North Shore residents are being asked to "immediately" reduce their water use to lower the volume of wastewater, Watercare says.
"All our North Shore customers, Please reduce your water use immediately. Do not use your washing machines until further notice and keep your showers short. This is to reduce the volume of wastewater leaving your properties," the city's water provider tweeted.
10:06am - Councillor Richard Hills has provided a full list of contacts, phone numbers and places to go for shelter
10:03am - ASB is also offering flood relief to customers who have been impacted.
The bank is offering the suspension of home loan repayments and emergency overdrafts for personal, business and rural customers.
Read the full statement below:
ASB is available to support customers who may require emergency financial assistance as a result of the recent weather events. Emergency assistance can be offered to personal, farming and business customers on a case-by-case basis, including:
Option to suspend home loan principal repayments for up to three months.
Overdraft of up to $10,000 for ASB home loan customers and up to $2,000 for other ASB personal customers, or other tailored solutions depending on the customer's circumstances.
Tailored solutions for eligible ASB business and rural customers including access to working capital of up to $100,000.
Personal customers needing support should call our contact centre on 0800 803 804. Our team is available to assist between 8.30am and 5pm right across the Auckland Anniversary long weekend. Alternatively, customers can email hardship@asb.co.nz. Affected ASB business and rural customers should speak to their relationship manager or call 0800 803 804.
More information and full terms, fees and charges can be found on ASB's website. Detail for personal customers is available at https://www.asb.co.nz/page/relief-package/support.html while information for business, rural and corporate customers can be found at https://www.asb.co.nz/page/relief-package/business-support.html.
ASB insurance customers can contact our insurance team for assistance on 0800 200 242.
9:55am - Vehicles have been discarded throughout the city with pictures showing Pak'nSave Wairau Park's car park full of abandoned cars.
9:50am - Auckland is under a state of emergency. Click here for a full explainer on what that means.
9:47am - Westpac is offering financial support for customers who were affected by the flooding.
The bank said its relief includes a range of options such as:
Suspension of principal payments for up to three months on home loans and business loans
Deferred payment on business credit cards for up to three months
A temporary overdraft facility for business customers
Westpac NZ Acting General Manager of Consumer Banking and Wealth, Jo McGregor, said who need to access term deposit funds should contact the bank,
McGregor said the bank is standing by to provide emergency financial support, but its top priority is the safety of customers and staff.
"We're here to help affected customers in any way we can, and we'll work together with them to get through this," she said.
"Our branches in Auckland are closed today because properties are being checked for damage, and we're asking our team members and customers not to make non-essential travel while the forecast remains uncertain.
"Customers in Auckland needing support should call our contact centre on 0800 400 600.
"We encourage people to make sure they look after their wellbeing, and reach out to friends and family where possible to ensure they're safe and well."
9:45am - A video from Sunnynook in Auckland shows a bus floating down the road during the flooding last night.
9:38am - Auckland Domain is still flooded with photos showing a tree has been toppled over during the storm.
9:35am - Auckland mayor Wayne Brown says it's "too early" to say whether the flooding was caused by climate change.
He told RNZ he's seen some pretty big events in his lifetime.
11:05am - Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty is heading to Auckland to assess the flood damage.
9:21am - Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins held a stand up about the floods late last night.
Hipkins said the Defense Force is working on ensuring he can get to Auckland to help asses the true extent of the damage.
"Obviously tomorrow, once the sun comes up or at least behind the clouds, we'll actually know a little bit more about what we're dealing with and the true extent of the challenge that is ahead of Auckland," he said.
"The entire public service will be ready to deploy resources once we actually understand what's required and that will mean if we need to, we can send more to Auckland. Of course there's a lot of resources in Auckland and we'll be making sure that we deploy that is the best we can in the first thing."
Hipkins had a message to Aucklanders - please reach out and support others where you can.
"We don't know the true extent of the number of people who may have evacuated," he said.
"In some cases, people will have just left their homes and gone somewhere else that's safe... but my message to everybody really is stay safe."
9:07am - Two people have died from the flooding last night and another has been swept away by floodwater.
Police say the man was swept away by floodwaters in Onewhero and a search and rescue team will be deployed today.
Another person is missing after a landslide in Remuera.
Read the full police statement below:
Police in the Auckland region are continuing to respond to a high number of calls to weather-related incidents after the severe weather yesterday and overnight.
Yesterday evening about 7.30pm, Police responded to a call for service where a man had been found deceased in a flooded culvert in Wairau Valley.
About 12.30am, Police were called to a flooded carpark on Link Drive, also in Wairau Valley, after a report of another man found deceased.
Enquiries into the circumstances of both these deaths are ongoing.
A report was received about 10.15pm that a man had been swept away by floodwaters in Onewhero.
A search and rescue team will deploy today to search for the missing man.
And about 7.35pm, Police and other emergency services responded to a call where a landslide had brought down a house on Shore Road, Remuera.
One person remains unaccounted for.
The property will be assessed this morning.
Police continue to urge people to stay home and not drive unless absolutely necessary today.
Many roads are closed in the region due to flooding and slips, making it extremely dangerous to be on the roads.
SH1 from Puhoi to Warkworth is completely closed, as is SH16.
Last night, the new stretch of motorway between Puhoi and Warkworth was opened for a brief period to divert traffic and ease heavy congestion.
This detour is no longer in use and Police are asking people not to attempt to travel that way.
The airport is expected to remain closed until at least midday.
We will continue to support lead agencies today as they work to establish the extent of the damage and to assist those in need.
9:03am - Air New Zealand says it's dealing with significant disruptions as it takes stock of the flooding damage.
The airline released a statement with advice for affected passengers. Read the full statement below:
Following the heavy rain, flooding and closure of Auckland Domestic and International terminals, Air New Zealand is working through significant flight disruptions on its network.
As Auckland is the hub of its operation, the airline is working through what its schedule will look like from midday today when Auckland Airport is scheduled to reopen.
Overnight the airline saw 12 international services due into Auckland divert to other ports. This will cause significant flow on effects while the airline works through getting customers on those services to their original destinations and our crew and planes back where they need to be. This may take a few days to recover.
The airline is advising those with non-urgent travel between now and Monday 30th January 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 28th January 2023 and Monday 6th February 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.
Advice for customers booked to travel:
- The Air New Zealand app is the easiest way for customers to stay up to date with flight details and changes
- Most customers are able to self-serve via the Manage Booking tab on the Air New Zealand website
- Impacted customers will be notified and rebooked to the next best alternative over the next 48 hours
- As the contact centre is experiencing extremely high volumes of calls we ask that only those with travel over the next 24 hours contact us directly.
- The airline’s travel alerts page has the most up to date information on operating flights - our contact centre team do not have any more information than this
- If you are travelling out of Auckland, please do not travel to the airport until you receive an update that your flight is going ahead
Customers who booked through a travel agent or third-party online agent should contact them directly about making changes to their bookings or credit validity.
Air New Zealand would like to thank customers for their patience and support while it works through these significant disruptions.
The airline is focused on managing these impacts for our customer and will not be able to provide specific flight details or impacted customer numbers at this time.
8:59am - Photos sent to Newshub show extensive damage to a waterfront walkway in Manukau Harbour.
8:40am - The red heavy rain warning is no longer in place for Auckland but that doesn't mean the rain is over.
Metservice says more periods of heavy rain are coming but not as extreme as Friday, orange and yellow warnings are still in place across the North Island.
8:10am - Air New Zealand has posted due to the impact of extreme weather across the Auckland Region, flexibility is available on all fare types for customers who held tickets for travel to/from/through Auckland between Friday 27th January 2023 and Monday 30th January 2023 on an Air New Zealand flight.
You’re able to rebook in the same class of travel between Saturday 28th January 2023 and Monday 6th February 2023 without fare difference, penalty or service fees. If travel is only available in a higher cabin, the fare differential will apply. Find out more here:
8:00am - Fire and Emergency says they worked through the night to clear the backlog of less urgent 111 calls, contacting callers to see whether they still need assistance this morning.
In a statement they said rescue calls were prioritised overnight, with firefighters attending first to people who were trapped in their homes or vehicles by floodwater, slips, and fallen trees. We estimate over 2000 calls were received,
This morning the communications centre team has been contacting the other callers and reprioritising those who still need help, while new 111 calls are still being received.
They should also avoid driving through floodwater because of the risk that they will become trapped and need to be rescued.
Counties Manukau District Manager Brad Mosby says that firefighters worked tirelessly through the night. Dayshift career firefighters are coming on duty this morning to pick up the work from the crews who worked through the night and our volunteer brigades will also be rotating their firefighters.
An Urban Search and Rescue team has been activated at the request of Emergency Management Auckland and will be undertaking rapid damage assessments of buildings that may have suffered structural damage.
0740am - There has been an update from Auckland Airport which remains closed to all domestic and international flights.
Travellers who were stuck there overnight are finally able to begin head home after being stranded by flooding at the domestic and international terminals.
In a statement the Airport said:
"The Auckland Airport team has been working throughout the night to support over 2000 travellers and airport workers, cut off by flooding on roads in and around the airport precinct, as well as on the ground level of the international terminal, particularly in the check in area.
"Over the past hour the flooding has cleared, allowing most travellers to leave the safety of the terminal buildings and find their way home or to accommodation.
"This is not the start any of us wanted for the long weekend in Auckland. We want to genuinely thank travellers for their patience overnight, as we contended with rising floodwaters, a runway closure and multiple flight delays, diversions and cancellations,” said Chief Executive Carrie Hurihanganui.
"We’re also really grateful to the retailers that remained open tonight to support travellers and provide food and drink, as well as our team at the Strata lounge and other airport lounges who have worked through the night to care for travellers.”
Flooding inside the international terminal check in area and around the airport forecourt has cleared for now, allowing travellers waiting landside and parked in carparks D and E, to return to their vehicles. Domestic travellers have also been released from the terminal to return home, and Park & Ride buses are now operating at the domestic terminal.
"For international travellers who are parked at the Park & Ride, we are currently arranging buses to pick you up as soon as possible, and our team will keep you updated. Taxis and rideshares are also now operating.”
A number of passengers are still waiting airside at the international terminal, with Auckland Airport working with borders agencies to support them through formal border processing formalities, prior to them being able to depart from the terminal.
Due to the damage overnight and the need to check key terminal infrastructure, no domestic or international flights will be arriving or departing from Auckland Airport before noon Saturday, 28 January. This will continue to be reviewed as the weather event continues.
We encourage travellers to get in touch with their airline or check their airline travel app for the latest information about their flights.
7:30am - A number of roads have been affected by flooding and were closed on Friday night.
NZTA says The Upper Harbour Highway on SH 1 is closed as is SH1 in Puhoi between Grant Drive and Warkworth.
SH16 in Kumeu is closed due to flooding between Access Road and Station Road.
SH16 is closed between Kaukapakapa to Wellsford.
For more information on closed roads click here.
07:10am - Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty has told Newstalk ZB "dozens" of people attended evacuation centres overnight but believes the total number of people evacuated is "significantly higher".
McAnulty said he understands flooding has subsided "quite a bit" at Auckland Airport.
"This was a severe weather event that happened extremely quickly.
"There's no way that you could predict [the] weather coming that quickly."
For more information on the Civil Defence centres click here.
7:00am - Unsurprisingly a number of rain records were broken in Tāmaki Makaurau on Friday. The wettest 24 hours on record were recorded with 249mm of rain falling by 1am on Saturday.
Auckland Airport got its average monthly rain for January in less than hour.
It looks like it will be the wettest month on record for Auckland ever as well as the wettest January on record.
6:45am - Aucklanders are waking up to rain, although not as heavy as Friday night. Thick black clouds still cover the sky and there is a hot, muggy atmosphere.
Abandoned cars litter the roads and can be seen along the hard shoulder of the motorways.
Aucklanders are being asked to avoid any unnecessary travel on Saturday and stay home if you can.
Drivers should drive to the conditions and do not try and drive through floodwater.
6:30am - A statement from the Auckland Mayor's office says it's been a "terrible night" for thousands of residents.
The statement said Mayor Wayne Brown will attend briefings with Auckland Council teams early on Saturday morning before meeting with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.
"I want to thank our emergency services and the team here for their hard work and dedication during very difficult circumstances," Brown said.
