An Auckland farmer who spent the night rescuing flood victims forced out by Cyclone Gabrielle says Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) have asked him to help with their response in Muriwai.
Bombay farmer Cam Vernon told AM "10 plus" homes in Ramarama were flooded overnight and many low-lying roads remain "very very flooded".
"We had high tide just after 5 o'clock, so yeah it's pretty educational," Vernon told AM.
It was a busy night for Vernon as Cyclone Gabrielle whipped through the upper North Island. He told AM a man attempted to retrieve a car that was flooded but floodwaters swept the man and the car away.
"We found him trapped on a fence, hanging on a tree. So we put him in the loader bucket and got him out."
And it didn't stop there for Vernon, he helped with several evacuation operations of families and their pets in the Ramarama community.
"They're all fine, they are all at the Ramarama School."
Vernon told AM he's lived in Ramarama his entire life and Cyclone Gabrielle has delivered weather "the worst I've seen".
And now the Auckland farmer is preparing to travel to Muriwai in west Auckland to help FENZ with their response after two houses collapsed, trapping a firefighter and injuring another.
"We're just loading up two 14-tonne machines with a grab, we're loading up a six-tonne digger with a grab and the tractor with blade and grab as well."
Watch the full interview above.
