People around the country are being warned to prepare for widespread heavy rain over the next few days - and there's an increased risk of flooding and landslides.
National Emergency Management Agency director John Price said the organisation was working with Civil Defence to ensure they had the resources they needed before bad weather arrived.
Heavy rain warning and a severe thunderstorm watch for Auckland
MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning and a severe thunderstorm watch for Auckland, including Great Barrier Island from midday to midnight on Tuesday.
The region could see localised torrential rain of around 50mm to 70mm, and an active front could bring thunderstorms on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Auckland Emergency Management Duty Controller Parul Sood said Aucklanders should remain vigilant and have an emergency plan in place if they needed to evacuate, especially those people who live in isolated areas, or areas prone to flooding.
People should check the Auckland Emergency Management website and social media channels to see whether civil defence centres had been activated, she said.
AEM head of engineering resilience Ross Roberts said properties next to, above or below properties affected by existing landslides may be at increased risk of further landslides.
Chances of a tornados in Northland
People in the Northland are also being told to brace for thunderstorms.
MetService has issued orange heavy rain warnings for Coromandel and Northland.
The active front is expected to hit on Tuesday bringing with it torrential rain of 40mm an hour and a slight chance of a tornado.
Driving conditions will also be hazardous with the potential of flooding and low visibility.
Pallets of sandbags available for those in Hokitika
MetService has issued an orange weather warning for Westland, with 150mm of rain expected near the coast and up to 350mm in the ranges.
The Westland District Council has made pallets of sandbags available before the forecasted heavy rain.
The council said sandbags were available on four streets in central Hokitika, for those in areas likely to be worst-affected by flooding.
- Corner of Stafford and Sewell Streets
- Corner of Hamilton and Tancred Streets
- Corner of Tancred and Weld Streets
- Corner of Weld and Sewell Streets
Residents were also urged to be mindful on the roads and drive slowly through flood waters or avoid the affected areas altogether.
West Coast forecasted to receive 300 millimetres of rain
MetService has issued an orange weather warning for much of the West Coast, with up to 300mm of rain forecast to fall until Tuesday night.
West Coast emergency staff are on standby around the region should bad weather escalate overnight.
West Coast Emergency Management Claire Brown said residents should be making preparations and have a plan in place incase they need to leave in a hurry.
Brown said the heaviest falls are expected to begin early tomorrow morning and last until lunch time.
RNZ
