The North Island isn't quite out of the woods yet with wild weather. Most of the upper North Island is under a severe thunderstorm watch until Thursday night and there are still orange heavy rain warnings for parts of the Bay of Plenty.
As the big clean-up continues in Auckland, Emergency Management officials are warning there's a chance of further slips in the region.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown met earlier on Thursday to discuss the current weather situation, and said they are focussed on coordinating local and central government assistance.
What you need to know:
- Four people have died in the Auckland flooding
- A state of emergency is in place for Auckland
- Multiple State Highways are impacted by flooding. Click here for the full list
- Click here for a list of council road closures across Auckland
- King Charles has sent his "deepest condolences" to those affected by the floods
- While the sun is back for Aucklanders, they're warned not to swim at beaches for "some time"
- Auckland schools can reopen on Thursday
- The number of red-stickered (uninhabitable) Auckland homes stands at 168, while 687 have been yellow-stickered (restricted access)
- People who need a Civil Defence payment, supplements to loss of income, emergency bedding or clothing should call 0800 400 100.
Civil Defence centres:
West: Bruce McLaren Community Centre at Hub West, Corban Ave, Henderson
North: Massey University Albany Campus, Sir Neil Walters Lecture Theatre, Massey University East Precinct, Albany Expressway SH17
South: Mana Tukutuku, 32 Riverton Dr, Randwick Park
- For more information visit here.
These live updates have now finished.
9:22pm- Auckland Transport says due to a slip Ngapipi Rd is closed northbound between Tamaki Dr and Paritai Dr, and southbound between Tamaki Dr and Ngaiwi St.
9:18 pm- Here's an update from MetService on heavy rain warnings and watches:
Heavy Rain Warning - Orange
Impact: Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.
Bay of Plenty west of Kawerau, also Bay of Plenty District and Tauranga City.
- Period: 14hrs from 9pm Thu, 2 Feb - 11am Fri, 3 Feb
- Forecast: Periods of rain, with some heavy falls possible. Expected a further 40 to 50mm of rain to accumulate on top of what has already fallen. Peak intensities of 10 to 15 mm per hour.
Westland south of Otira
Period: 19hrs from 9pm Thu, 2 Feb - 4pm Fri, 3 Feb
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Expect a further 150 to 220 mm of rain to accumulate about the ranges, and 50 to 80 mm near the coast. This is in addition to what has already fallen. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h about the ranges. Thunderstorms are possible.
Heavy Rain Watch
Mount Taranaki
- Period: 17hrs from 11pm Thu, 2 Feb - 4pm Fri, 3 Feb
- Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.
Eastern Northland south of the Bay of Islands.
- Period: 13hrs from 9pm Thu, 2 Feb - 10am Fri, 3 Feb
- Forecast: Periods of rain are possible. Total rainfall accumulations could approach the reduced warning criteria.
Eastern areas of Auckland except Hunua Ranges.
- Period: 13hrs from 9pm Thu, 2 Feb - 10am Fri, 3 Feb
- Forecast: Periods of rain are possible. Total rainfall accumulations could approach the reduced warning criteria.
Coromandel Peninsula and the Hunua Ranges
- Period: 14hrs from 9pm Thu, 2 Feb - 11am Fri, 3 Feb
- Forecast: Periods of rain or showers. Total rainfall accumulations (around 30 to 50 mm) through the period would not normally be sufficient to issue a Watch, but due to the recent heavy rains these lesser amounts may still cause issues for the region.
Fiordland north of George Sound
- Period: 15hrs from 9pm Thu, 2 Feb - noon Fri, 3 Feb
- Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.
6:30pm - MetService says heavy rain is arriving in Tauranga.
"An Orange Heavy Rain Warning is in place for the western half of Bay of Plenty until 8am tomorrow," they said on Twitter.
5pm - Waka Kotahi says SH2 in Remutaka Hill has reopened.
"We want to thank motorists for their patience and understanding during today’s incident. "Because of queued vehicles from today’s closure, drivers can still expect delays on this route," Waka Kotahi said.
4:30pm - MetService says a line of heavy rain is moving over the Hauraki Gulf.
"This line will most likely miss Whangārei but will affect the Coromandel and western Bay of Plenty, then arrive in eastern parts of Auckland this evening," they said on Twitter.
4:04pm - NIWA says January was Auckland's wettest month in the past 170 years.
"Over a half metre of rain fell in central Auckland in January 2023," they said on Twitter.
"Putting that into context, it's 45% of the annual average, 260% of the summer average, 850% of the January average. Records here date back to 1853, which makes this very significant."
3:31pm - Kelleher says around 200 lifts and escalators need maintenance from the flooding. She says lift operators are working to fix them.
She says she's not aware of any requests for additional help from residents but anyone who is struggling should contact Auckland Emergency Management.
She says she doesn't have the details for how many lifts aren't working in apartment buildings. Kelleher says operators say they aren't aware of people being trapped and unable to exit their buildings.
3:27pm - There will be an update on the state of emergency tomorrow.
3:27pm - Anything that has come into contact with flood water should be treated as if it is contaminated, Kelleher says.
3:25pm - There are now 15 drop-off locations across the city for flood-damaged debris. It is free for people who are uninsured.
3:23pm - She says more than 120 households have been accommodated after the floods. Officials are working hard to find the remaining people housing.
3:22pm - Kelleher says operators are working "at pace" to restore lifts which were damaged across the city. She says elderly and vulnerable people are being prioritised.
3:21pm - The National Coordination Centre will remain open during the long weekend. Ball says people should use the long weekend to prepare for any future emergencies.
3:19pm - NEMA's Roger Ball says authorities are working together closely to help communities clean up and restore services.
3:16pm - AT's safety manager Stacey van der Putten says people need to be planning their journeys ahead of time. She says 400 AT staff are working to clear slips and reopen roads. Since Saturday 60 have been reopened 29 are still closed.
She says several key roads across the city are still closed so people should check AT's journey planner to make sure they don't get stuck.
3:12pm - He is urging anyone whose house was flooded needs to call their insurance. They're also encouraged to call professional cleaners if wastewater or grey water got inside their homes.
3:10pm - Auckland Council's building control expert Ian McCormack says the majority of the urgent building inspections are expected to be done by Sunday.
He says all the red placards are also being reviewed to see whether they can be turned into yellow placards.
3:09pm - Tomorrow the weather is expected to be worse than today and Aucklanders are urged to check the rain radar to see if they're likely to be hit.
3:08pm - MetService's Georgina says Auckland is experiencing "perfect thunderstorm weather" and localised and high-intensity rain is possible.
She said 99 out of 100 Aucklanders won't see thunderstorms but those that do should expect them to be heavy and to cause localised flooding and slips.
3:06pm - Auckland Emergency Management Controller Rachel Kelleher says further bad weather is expected this afternoon and tomorrow.
3:05pm - A livestream of the Auckland Emergency Management press conference can be watched below.
2:45pm - Civil Defence officials will be providing an update at 3pm. You can watch the livestream at the top of this article. App users click here.
2:37pm - SH20 is still closed and traffic is building northbound from Manukau, Waka Kotahi says.
2:30pm - Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says a meeting he had with Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown on Thursday was future-focused, but the pair did canvass the initial aftermath of the Auckland flooding.
Read the full story here.
2:24pm - EMA is welcoming the Government's announcement of financial support for Auckland. Read the full statement below.
The EMA is pleased the Government has dedicated another $700,000 in support for regions that have been badly hit by recently flooding.
Chief Executive Brett O'Riley says the upper North Island where the worst of the damage is exactly where its 7,100 business members are.
"Our business members and community find themselves in a terrible situation where unprecedented weather conditions have endangered lives and destroyed property, livelihoods and infrastructure."
"They need all the help they can get, and it makes sense to provide local communities with funding to help with the clean-up work in the first instance," he says.
Mr O'Riley say the EMA supports the Government working with the Ministry of Social Development to engage people not currently working to help with some of the labour market challenges but reiterates the need for additional skilled workers to supervise and manage those people.
The EMA has been working with local and central Government and agencies and other business and sector groups. Brett O'Riley is also the Chairperson of the Auckland Business Roundtable.
He says there is still the bigger picture skills shortage to address though.
"As with the rebuilding of Christchurch following the earthquakes, immigration rules may need to be relaxed to allow people with the skills needed into the country to help with remediation."
"Extra labour will certainly be needed to help with this, especially when the last thing the economy needs is a slowdown in production," says Mr O'Riley.
He says the EMA supports the Government working with the Ministry of Social Development to engage people not currently working to help with some of the labour market challenges, but reiterates the need for additional skilled workers to supervise and manage those people.
What has also become apparent since the flooding, Mr O'Riley says, is that a number of small to medium-sized business had foregone their insurance to try and cut costs post-pandemic.
While it is not clear exactly how many businesses this impacts, he expects calls through the EMA's own AdviceLine and to the Business Helpline will provide a better picture.
"We've stood the Business Helpline back up that was operating during COVID-19 to provide useful, up-to-date information to all small business businesses, not just our members.
Any business owner facing challenges following the recent flooding can call the Business Helpline on 0800 500 362; email info@businesshelpline.co.nz or visit the re-booted Business Community at www.activatecommunity.co.nz for free up-to-date information and useful resources.
Mr O'Riley says that not surprisingly during his meeting with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins this morning talk turned to other ways to help rebuild and rejuvenate the worst affected areas.
"A comprehensive marketing campaign for both Auckland and New Zealand is essential, as while the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 will be a showcase for our country and contribute to the economy, there are few other major events in the pipeline," he says.
"In this globally competitive market we need to be attracting students, migrant and investors."
2:21pm - Here's the latest Fire And Emergency New Zealand update.
For the 24 hours from 12.01am on Wednesday 1 February Fire and Emergency’s Communication Centres received 413 calls across the country. 295 of these calls were from Auckland city, Northland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
93 of these calls were weather-related incidents in Auckland city between 6am and 8.30 am yesterday as a result of a sudden downpour after a relatively quiet night.
In Auckland, including Waitemata, Auckland city, and Counties Manukau, there were 247 incidents which included:
- 26 priority one incidents (where there is confirmed risk to people)
- 76 priority two incidents (where there is a potential risk to people)
Auckland crews responded to four weather-related rescues:
- Tree down on a house in Mount Albert
- Person trapped in a house by flood waters in Greenlane
- Person trapped in a car by flood waters in Wesley
- Land subsidence resulting in structure collapse in Manukau Heads
In Northland there were 9 incidents which included:
- One priority two incident (where there is confirmed risk to people)
In Waikato there were 25 incidents which included:
- One priority one incident (where there is confirmed risk to people)
- Seven priority two incidents (where there is a potential risk to people)
In Bay of Plenty there were 14 incidents which included:
- One priority two incident (where there is a potential risk to people)
The weather has now cleared up and our 111 fire communication centres have received only six weather-related call outs in the Auckland region since 6pm last night.
However, the chances of slips, fallen trees and infrastructure damage remain high.
Continue to take care when moving through the urban areas due to the ongoing effects of the weather event.
Our crews are ready to assist and provide support to Emergency Management.
Remember, in an emergency do not wait - dial 111. We are here to help.
2:17pm - The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi says Auckland's recent flooding highlights why councillors need to keep funding the city's Citizens Advice Bureaux.
Read the statement in full below.
Auckland councillors need to keep funding the city’s Citizens Advice Bureaux which provide critical services to communities across the city, says the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
The council will meet next week to consider the 2023/2024 draft budget, which is proposing funding cuts of up to $2m for the city’s 32 Citizen’s Advice Bureaux as part of plans to lower debt and reduce rates rises for the city.
"Now more than ever as communities face big challenges from the current flooding emergency as well as the cost-of-living crisis, Citizens Advice Bureaux are stepping up and providing valuable support to so many communities," said PSA National Secretary Kerry Davies.
The free service is supported by over 800 volunteers.
"Our message to Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and all councillors is simple. In a time of crisis, don’t cut the very services that help people and contribute so much to community wellbeing."
Barbara Guy has worked for Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Waitakere Te Pou Whakawhirinaki o Waitākere for over 25 years.
She is the Manager Kaiwhakahaere at CAB Massey, in the middle of the Auckland floods.
She says the proposed cuts to a vital community service supporting Aucklanders affected by floods and COVID is "a kick in the guts.
"West Aucklanders are coming to Citizen Advice Bureaux desperate because their houses are unliveable, they have nowhere to go, and their landlords are still demanding rent," she said. "How is it acceptable for Auckland Council to rip away a safety net for vulnerable Aucklanders who can’t otherwise get the support they need?"
1:20pm - MetService has just issued a new severe thunderstorm watch for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula and Waikato.
MetService said there are heavy showers approaching Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Waikato from offshore to the north.
"In addition, daytime heating is encouraging the development of showers along lines of wind convergence in some areas," MetService said.
"Associated with this is a low to moderate risk of thunderstorms with heavy rain up to 25 mm per hour. Additionally, however, there is a moderate risk of localised downpours (25 to 40 mm per hour), whether thunderstorms occur or not."
MetService warns rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.
The forecaster added driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.
1:09pm - Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has just fronted a press conference providing an update on the flooding and recovery efforts.
Hipkins told media the Government is working closely with the insurance companies and he wants to see as many claims resolved as quickly as possible.
"[This is] to make sure that people can just get on with the job of cleaning out the damage so that they can actually start the rebuild process," Hipkins said.
But he warned it can take time to work through areas where there are more complex claims.
He added there are challenges for retail, wholesale, stock loss and underinsurance.
"[It's] a complex area for the Government to step into, so don't want to become an insurer by default because that creates another set of issues so we'll just work our way through those sorts of issues carefully," Hipkins said.
The Prime Minister was asked about people who'd been displaced because of the deluge.
He said the Government is working with the accommodation sector to help people displaced because their homes have been damaged by floods.
"That includes looking at things like motels as a stopgap measure while people's houses get dried out again and so on," he said.
"We'll work with our accommodation providers, our emergency accommodation providers, the existing ones that we have and we are already I believe working with potential new providers to provide short-term temporary accommodation while we get things sorted."
12:25pm - Government announces further support for upper North Island regions:
The Government is unlocking an additional $700,000 in support for regions that have been badly hit by the recent flooding and storm damage in the upper North Island.
"We're supporting the response and recovery of Auckland, Waikato, Coromandel, Northland, and Bay of Plenty regions, through activating Enhanced Taskforce Green to help with flood relief efforts," Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced today.
"$500,000 is being made available to provide unskilled and semi-skilled jobs for local people who will support farmers, growers, and communities by completing clean-up work on their properties.
"The damage to farms, homes, roads, and bridges across the regions affected is extensive and no doubt will take a long time to be fully assessed. By making this funding available, local councils and other authorised agencies can hire job seekers to help."
The flooding and storm damage in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty has also been classified as a medium-scale adverse event, which unlocks extra support for farmers and growers.
"Some areas have recorded unprecedented amounts of rain, which has flooded farmland, damaged infrastructure, and washed away some crops," Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor said.
"The record rainfall comes on top of what has been a challenging and wet season for many in the upper North Island, which compounds the stress for people. It's important we contribute to helping farmers and growers who have managed their way through these events.
"Funding of $200,000 will be allocated to Rural Support Trusts who know their communities and what support is required to help people through."
"This targeted funding for the clean-up and rural communities is on top of the more than $1 million the Government has already provided to the Mayoral Relief Fund to help communities in Auckland," Rural Communities Minister Kieran McAnulty said.
"While the full extent of the damage will take weeks to be revealed, it is clear there has been significant impacts on communities, farmers and growers across the upper North Island. We'll be keeping a close eye on things over the coming weeks and whether further support is required."
Government agencies, councils and sector groups will continue to work together to monitor the storm's impact, and determine where support should be targeted to the greatest need.
In addition to the funding announced today, Inland Revenue is set to activate its Adverse Event Income Equalisation Scheme for the affected regions. This will enable farming businesses to even out income fluctuations by spreading their gross income from year to year.
12:07pm - Here is an update from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency on the road to Raglan:
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises that due to the increasing severity of cracking and slumping on the highway, State Highway 23 (SH23) must remain closed to all traffic for now.
"Geotechnical engineers are carrying out drilling and core penetration tests to investigate the severity of the situation and ongoing risk," says Waka Kotahi System Manager for the Waikato, Cara Lauder.
"Once we have the full picture from the geotech team we will be able to plan how to best fix it.
"We understand how vital this highway is to the Raglan community. Unfortunately, this will not be a quick repair job.
"We have significant work ahead of us to get the road back to full use, but it's our priority to find a solution that will give road users access.
"Currently the area is very wet and it's unsafe for vehicles. Please bear with us while we investigate options to create temporary access around the affected areas. We will provide further updates on this as we progress," says Ms Lauder.
The road was closed last night from 7pm due to the safety risk posed by the cracking and slumping on the highway west of Glentui Lane.
Inspections this morning show continued deterioration.
"Despite our best efforts to keep water out of the cracks, the fissures are growing quickly.
"Short term measures have included adding cold mix asphalt to the cracks and building an asphalt bund to direct road water flow away for the slumping.
"We appreciate that the community needs answers quickly, but our focus must be safety while we work on a solution," Ms Lauder says.
If travelling from Raglan, the detour route is as follows: Ohautira Road, Waingaro Road, Herschel Street, Ellery Street, Whatawhata Avenue, Ngaruawahia Road, Horotiu Road to re-join SH23.
Caution is advised on the detour as the roads have tight, winding sections. We do not advise using Old Mountain Road.
Check social media and the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic.
11:50am - King Charles has sent a message to those affected by the floods.
11:45am - Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown met earlier on Thursday to discuss the current weather situation.
"They focused almost exclusively on the current situation and the coordination of local and central govt assistance, while also discussing climate change and work towards the mayor's vision of a single, integrated, all-modes transport plan," the Twitter account for the Office of the Mayor of Auckland said.
11:40am - Watercare has released their tanker locations for Thursday where locals without water can fill up. The tankers will be on site until 9:30pm.
11:30am - Surf lifesavers are urging beachgoers to stay away from Mangawhai Heads beach after its club was significantly damaged by flooding.
Surf Life Saving Northern Region said beach patrols will be unable to operate after a slip caused significant damage to the back wall of the club.
"Mangawhai Heads often sees strong currents, and the water depth can drop off really quickly. We are asking people to work with us as we make assessments and to please stay away while we work to resume patrols and ensure safe beach use," chief executive Matt Williams said.
"The grounds around the club are unstable, so there is also a risk for beachgoers who remain on land. Please follow the advice on the Surf Lifesaving Northern Region and SafeSwim websites, to ensure you and your whānau remain safe."
The paid lifeguard service at Waipū Cove may be able to respond to serious incidents, however, the distance between the beaches means a rapid response is not available.
It is not yet known when patrols will resume.
All Auckland urban beaches and several Northland beaches are currently black-flagged, which means no swimming is allowed due to the potential of wastewater contamination after the heavy downpour of rain.
Williams said there will be no swimmable conditions, nor any patrol operations occurring until Tuesday, February 8.
11:10am - The sun might be back for Aucklanders - finally - but they're being warned not to swim at beaches for "some time".
Civil Defence said debris and wastewater are making swimming hazardous and people should avoid it for "some time".
They added heavy flooding has caused wastewater to overflow and contaminate beaches.
"We are seeing more sun and we are heading into a long weekend so I imagine if that forecast does improve people will be very keen to get out and about," Civil Defence controller Rachel Kelleher said.
"At the moment, all of the urban beaches in Auckland have a black do not swim pin on them and most of the rest, or all of the rest, still have advice not to swim."
Kelleher said it's important to check SafeSwim before hitting the beaches even though the rain has stopped.
10:54am - Auckland bus drivers have been told not to go through floodwaters.
It comes after a video emerged of a driver taking on the deep floodwaters on Beachcroft Ave in Onehunga.
Auckland Transport executive general manager for safety Stacey van der Putten told RNZ's Morning Report on Thursday no one should be driving through floodwaters, including bus drivers.
"We don't recommend bus drivers drive through floodwaters," van der Putten said.
She said Friday night was a different scenario for bus drivers as everything was constantly changing.
10:35am - Here is an update from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency on SH1 Brynderwyns to Waipu:
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is advising motorists that the section of SH1 Brynderwyn Hills to Waipu is very unlikely to reopen ahead of Waitangi weekend.
Jacqui Hori-Hoult, Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations Waka Kotahi says the highway is being closely monitored and a decision was made to keep the road closed yesterday as it was not appropriate to be re-opened.
“We know how important the highway is to freight and local communities, however our priority is to first and foremost keep everyone safe.
“Crews and geotechnical engineers are back onsite this morning, re-assessing the road.
“We will continue to keep people updated as these assessments progress, which will inform when we can open the road safely. With recurring slips, we don’t anticipate this to be in time for the long weekend” Ms Hori-Hoult says.
Detours will remain in place for light vehicles via Mangawhai and Waipu, and for heavy vehicles via SH12 and SH14.
The Waka Kotahi Journey Planner is updated by our traffic operations centres 24/7 to provide the latest available information on state highway closures and disruptions. Remember to refresh the page when checking the status of highways to ensure the latest updates are displayed.
10:17am - MetService has updated its weather warnings and watches on Thursday morning saying further heavy rain is expected for the northern regions of the North Island and the west of the South Island.
A heavy rain watch has been added for eastern areas of Auckland except for the Hunua Ranges from 11pm on Thursday until 11am on Friday.
The forecaster said a period of rain is possible with 50mm of rainfall expected.
A heavy rain watch has also been added for eastern Northland south of the Bay of Islands from 10pm on Thursday until 10am on Friday.
Heavy rain watches have also lifted for Gisborne north of Ruatoria and Tasman west of Motueka.
Weather warnings and watches remain in place for parts of the North Island and for Westland and Fiordland in the South Island.
To check out all of MetService's warnings and watches click here.
9:55am - Here is an update from Auckland Emergency Management about the Clean-up and storm response:
Last night, Metservice issued a new heavy rain watch for the Hunua Ranges and Coromandel Peninsula from noon today to 6am Friday.
We expect showers to develop this afternoon, becoming more frequent this evening, before hopefully easing Friday morning and clearing.
Getting around
Work continues across the Auckland region to clean up further damage that occurred across our road and public transport network yesterday, along with the extensive damage that resulted from Friday’s event.
Auckland Transport continues to urge Aucklanders to take care when travelling on the network.
- AT has had more than 550 road maintenance crew members out across the region yesterday (Wednesday) working to reopen roads.
- They are making good progress and since Saturday, 49 roads have been restored and reopened.
- 39 roads are currently partly or fully closed with other lane closures on the network.
Public transport
- Rail services will run to reduced timetables on the Western (between Newmarket and Swanson with a transfer required at New Lynn), Southern (Papakura to Britomart via the Eastern Line) and Eastern Line (between Manukau and Otahuhu with a transfer required at Otahuhu to Southern Line services to complete the journey).
- Bus rail replacement services continue between Britomart and Newmarket, Onehunga Line and Southern Line between Ōtāhuhu and Newmarket.
- Bus services are operating on all routes with extended journey times due to detours as a result of road closures.
- Dedicated school bus services are being reinstated where schools will be opening today.
- Passengers wanting to travel on public transport services should check the AT Mobile app or AT website for the latest information on public transport services before they travel.
- Ferry services are operating reduced timetables. One exception is Gulf Harbour which will continue to operate with a bus replacement.
- AT undertook a successful welfare run to Rakino Island yesterday afternoon and reinstatement of regular services has yet to be confirmed.
- For the latest information on road closures and public transport, check: at.govt.nz/weatherwatch.
Welfare
- There are four Civil Defence Centres open at Māngere, Randwick Park, Albany and Kelston.
- Our Kelston centre will be transitioning to Henderson from today. The new address will be Bruce McLaren Community Centre at HubWest, 29 Corban Avenue, Henderson.
- There are also four community information hubs open 9-5pm at:
- Te Manawa, Westgate – 11 Kohuhu Lane (9am-5pm)
- New Lynn Community Centre – 45 Totara Avenue, New Lynn (9am-5pm)
- Fickling Convention Centre – 546 Mount Albert Road, Three Kings (9am-5pm)
- Birkenhead Leisure Centre – 46 Mahara Avenue, Birkenhead (9am-5pm)
- If you need any support and assistance – please call us on 0800 22 22 00.
Water and wastewater
- Watercare crews have begun the clean-up and have been working extended hours to get Auckland running again.
- Due to the volume of overflows, it may be a couple of days before these are all dealt with. Watercare is sending texts to the customers who reported overflows they haven’t got to yet.
- Watercare is attending to and cleaning-up after all known wastewater overflows from their manholes.
- Please remember to treat all floodwater as contaminated, wear protective clothing and wash hands thoroughly after clean-up and before handling food.
- We expect Wairau Pump Station to be operating at full capacity again today.
Landslips
- There is a high risk of more landslips as a result of the weather we’ve seen, such as the significant collapses on the north shore and in Āwhitu yesterday.
- Auckland Council geotechnical engineers and building inspectors are prioritising assessments where properties are at risk.
Waste
- To help with the clean-up council now has 15 drop off facilities around the region where people can drop off storm related debris. For uninsured people the drop off is free.
- If you want to take your waste to one of these stations, please phone Auckland Council on 0800 22 22 00 to confirm your visit.
- The first step for insured people who want to dispose of storm related waste is to contact their insurer and they will advise the next steps as policies do differ.
Swimming
- We’re seeing more sun in the weather forecast, but all urban beaches in Auckland have black “do not swim” pins due to being contaminated by flood water.
- Check Safeswim to see when it is safe to return to the water.
Lifts
- We are aware we have over 200 situations where high rise buildings have lifts not working because of flooding into basements and lift shafts.
- We are in contact with the major lift companies and are assured they are working as quickly as possible on the problem.
- This may mean difficult access for residents who may have to walk up many floors to and from home. If this causes issues for you, please remember you can call us on 0800 22 22 00 for help.
- We urge Aucklanders to check on their neighbours and alert us if there is anyone who needs our assistance.
9:38am - Here is an update from Waka Kotahi on SH25A in the Coromandel:
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has begun the work needed to get a clear picture of the full extent of the slip damage to State Highway 25A (SH25A) in the Coromandel, the first step in planning a solution to restore this vital transport link for the region.
“The damage to the road is significant, the repair will be a huge piece of work, and Waka Kotahi is gearing up now so we’ll be ready to take action as soon as the storm has passed. Our immediate priority is still the emergency response, and the site is still extremely wet and highly unstable. As soon as the weather eases, the ground stops moving and it's safe for our contractors to get back on site, we’ll carry out a thorough geotechnical investigation which will give us the information we need to determine the best long-term fix for the site,” says Waka Kotahi Regional Transport Systems Manager Cara Lauder.
In order to commence work on site as soon as conditions permit safe access, Waka Kotahi has begun engaging specialist contractors and geotechnical engineers, as well as local maintenance contractors who will clear material and develop a safe temporary access track to allow people and machinery to access the site. Initial on-site work is likely to include drilling boreholes and excavating test pits to understand the strength and stability of the underlying foundation at the site and in the surrounding area.
Ms Lauder says that provided the weather and ground conditions allow safe access to the site, Waka Kotahi expects to have initial information on the next steps in the repair and restoration of SH25A to share with the public and stakeholders next week.
“We know how vital this transport link is for the region, and we understand that people are hungry for information and want to know when the road could potentially re-open. We’re committed to sharing information as soon as we have more certainty on the way forward, and Waka Kotahi will engage with the public and stakeholders throughout the process of investigation, design and construction of a solution to re-establish a safe and resilient SH25A route for the region.”
For updates and to subscribe to our newsletters go to: SH25/SH25A Thames-Coromandel | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (nzta.govt.nz)
9:17am - Lee Burrell from Student Volunteer Army told AM he has organised around 1200 people to help in the recovery effort.
He said there are multiple groups all around west Auckland working on around nine properties on Thursday morning.
Burrell said groups are ripping out wet carpets, helping move furniture and doing a "bit of everything".
9am - Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told radio station Gold while it is not nice to see New Zealanders under stress during the floods, natural disasters show how Kiwis respond well in a crisis.
"Natural disasters bring out the best in Kiwis. I see the way Kiwis are supporting each other," Hipkins said.
Hipkins also told the radio station The Hits the damage to Auckland is "dramatic".
"It (the Air Force helicopter) did provide quite a vantage point for looking at what exactly has happened across Auckland," he said.
"The damage is more extensive than people might see from the ground."
8:49am - MetService warns "more rain is on the way" with heavy rain warnings in place.
"The warm, humid air has kept the temperatures above average overnight and a lot of our stations are sitting around 20C as of 7am," MetService said.
You can see what to expect with the weather on Thursday here as well as all the warnings and watches.
8:37am - Director of Emergency Management for the National Civil Defence Roger Ball said there were no major developments overnight, on a national level.
He said there was rain in other parts of the North Island but any impacts were handled locally.
Ball said they continued to call on the public to keep an eye on regular weather updates as weather warnings and watches remain in place.
He added the next phase involves a "very long" recovery following the deluge.
8:31am - Fire and Emergency NZ regional boss Ron Devlin said the number of emergency calls for weather-related incidents has reduced "considerably".
He said they're aware of the "potential risk" because of how sodden the ground is and their focus now is on recovery.
"We want to let people know we are ready and capable for any calls Auckland and the communities have," Devlin said.
8:23am - Auckland Transport is urging motorists to "take care" when travelling on the roads on Thursday.
Auckland Transport spokesperson Sarah Bryant said 49 roads have been restored and reopened since Saturday, while 39 continue to be partially closed or fully closed with other roads operating with lane closures.
Bryant said bus services are operating on all routes while train services are continuing to run on reduced timetables with some rail replacement buses in operation.
8:18am - Civil Defence Controller Rachel Kelleher said Auckland is expected to see showers on Thursday afternoon and evening before clearing on Friday morning.
Kelleher said more than 180 building inspectors are out checking properties.
"We do have a little bit more work to do after Tuesday night's and Wednesday morning's additional rainfall and they really are putting their best effort into getting through all those assessments as quickly as possible," Kelleher said.
7:55am - A Civil Defence press conference with the latest on the Auckland flooding emergency is due to start at 8am. Watch it live in the video above.
7:50am - Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has denied he is trying to stop Councillors from sharing safety information with the public.
It comes after an email sent to all elected representatives and leaked to Newshub on Wednesday afternoon showed Brown saying that "to ensure that all communications remain clear and consistent, we need to speak with one voice".
"For that reason, I ask that it be left to myself and the Deputy Mayor to lead public communications on regional matters."
The request prompted a reply from North Shore ward councillor Chris Darby, who said he could not read the mayor's email and "suffer in silence."
"Your request for councillors and local board members to button it on regional matters is somewhat ludicrous," said Darby.
But Brown defend his email during an interview with AM.
"I've encouraged local members to be vocal within their community as much as they want and about their local issues and fed those back into us," he said.
"But what I'm trying to get is the need for a region-wide overall communications coordinated system, which is managed out of the Mayor's office."
Brown requested that his interview with AM be conducted over the phone rather than appearing on TV.
7:29am - Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown admits he shouldn't have called journalists "drongos" in a text message to friends explaining why he couldn't play tennis.
The NZ Herald published a WhatsApp chat from Brown to a tennis group, where he said he couldn't play because "I've got to deal with media drongos over the flooding tomorrow".
"I'm never going to be a smooth-talking politician and I do need to improve my communication," Brown told AM.
"I probably shouldn't have said the word drongo to a couple of friends of mine but I was just explaining why I couldn't turn up to tennis that particular day.
"I regret it was made public, it was probably inappropriate but I do recognise the important role media play in an emergency."
7am - Auckland's Western Line train service will resume this morning at a reduced frequency and journeys will be longer due to speed restrictions.
Auckland Transport said services will operate between Newmarket and New Lynn at 40-minute intervals.
6:53am - An Auckland family left without their home after the deluge feels they're not getting any support.
Impacted resident Trushar Maisuria from the Auckland suburb of Massey told AM Auckland Council put a yellow sticker on his house for electrical issues but he fears there will be other problems with his property.
"No one has done anything about the sewage," he said. "We need help and no one is helping us."
Maisuria said he tried to call his insurance company but "can't get hold of anyone" and is also having housing issues.
"MSD (Ministry of Social Development) is sending us to shelter, shelter is sending us to MSD," he said.
"The other thing is I have the kids, a five-year-old and an eight-year-old and they're traumatised. I tried the shelter, it's not comfortable for me to keep my kids who are crying in the shelter."
6:48am - Police have confirmed there were no weather-related incidents or evacuations to report from in and around the Auckland region overnight.
6:39am - Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency said there were no changes to the current road closures for the Auckland and Northland regions.
6:30am - Ruamahunga Bay on Thames Coast Road on State Highway 25 is closed due to a large rock fall.
Incredible footage shows large rocks crashing down onto SH25 in front of waiting cars.
The large rockfall has blocked the road.
6:10am - MetService says there will be further heavy rain for the Hunua Ranges, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, and some western parts of the South Island.
"A front currently moving eastwards across the Bay of Plenty is expected to reverse direction on Thursday and move back towards the Coromandel Peninsula. Meanwhile, troughs are expected to affect the west of the South Island through to Friday," MetService said.
"The Red heavy rain warning for Bay of Plenty west of Kawerau has now been lifted, but a heavy rainfall watch is now in its place for the possibility of further heavy rain on Thursday.
"There is also now a heavy rainfall watch in place for the Hunua Ranges and Coromandel Peninsula. In all these areas, the amount of rain would not normally be enough to justify a watch, but the impact of this rain could be greater due to the recent flooding."
There is a orange heavy rain warnings in place for the Bay of Plenty, northern Gisborne and Westland.
Heavy rain watches remain in place for Western Tasman and northern Fiordland.
