No let up as wild weather continues

AUCKLAND: Rainsoaked northern areas of New Zealand are bracing for another day of wild weather as more torrential rain is set to hit from Nelson to Northland.

Parts of Auckland were under water last night as heavy downpours moved across the region, causing flash flooding and slips.

Hundreds were without power, a house was left perched above a large slip on Waiheke Island.

There were also reports of water entering homes through basements and ceilings as the deluge dumped the most rainfall on Auckland in a single hour in March since records began in 1965.

Civil Defence planning and intelligence manager Keith Hamish said up 50mm of rain had already fallen yesterday evening on Waiheke Island and near the Waitakere Ranges.

Two vehicles were rescued in Remuera and video emerged of a man wakeboarding behind a vehicle in floodwaters.

The weather also left many Auckland commuters stranded after trains reportedly stopped on the tracks around Glen Innes, causing chaotic scenes at Britomart station.

The downpours eased about 9pm, though further heavy falls were expected overnight, before afternoon thunderstorms and downpours kick in again this afternoon.

Severe weather warnings were still in place for Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula and the Bay of Plenty and north of Nelson.

‘‘The next 48 hours will be very wet indeed,’’ MetService forecaster Tuporo Marsters said.

‘‘It’s going to be real gumboot stuff, and there could be more road slips and flood damage because of the sodden ground.

‘‘More troughs of rain are expected to sweep down from Northland over the weekend so it is likely there will be more flooding, particularly in the Coromandel region,’’ the forecaster said.

Yesterday, four schools and five early childhood centres closed across Northland and Coromandel due to flooding, and roads across the region were still affected.

The wild weather stretched volunteer fire brigades with Kerikeri and Rawene particularly busy dealing with flooded homes, downed trees, blocked drains and crashes.

The weather also took its toll on the Far North’s power network. Yesterday morning 600 households were without power, mainly in Oue, Waimamaku and Horeke in South Hokianga.

Power was restored to all but 60 households by 4pm.

More outages were expected overnight.