Northland communities isolated as flooding washes out roads, bridges

Communities along Northland's east coast have been cut off after torrential rain washed out roads and bridges overnight, leaving widespread flooding and damage across the region.

MetService reported up to 200mm of rain falling over the eastern hills north of Whangārei, saying coastal areas experienced "significant flooding" this morning.

Communities cut off, roads swept away as flooding hits Northland - Watch on TVNZ+

Civil Defence said Punaruku, Ōakura, Ngunguru, Whangaruru and Helena Bay were among the worst affected, with roads closed by slips, surging floodwaters and damaged bridges, leaving some communities isolated.

Whangārei District Council chief executive Simon Weston said at 5.35pm that nearly all prior affected areas of the district were now accessible by road and that affected campers had either left the area or made themselves safe.

"While the urgency of the current situation has cleared, Civil Defence Northland are now preparing for more heavy rain forecast for later in this week."

Northland had been under an orange heavy rain warning overnight, with Auckland under a heavy rain watch. Both have since expired, though watches remain in place for Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, and Gisborne north of Tolaga Bay.

Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell urged residents to stay updated through Civil Defence.

"Thankfully we’ve had no loss of life, but now it’s down to the details," he told 1News, adding he had offered government support to Whangārei’s mayor.

MetService meteorologist Heather Keats said the overnight deluge followed a rapid late evening shift in the weather models, prompting the heavy rain watch to be issued at 8.30pm.

"Earlier yesterday, models had the heaviest rain well offshore," she said. "But by Saturday evening they aligned and showed the system moving over land."

The intense downpour began around 2am, forcing upgrades to a warning and the issuing of severe thunderstorm warnings.

"With this system there was a lot of uncertainty and the shift happened overnight, so it can definitely feel like it’s out of the blue," Keats said. "A lot of people went to bed not even aware there was a risk."

Civil Defence Northland said the east coast had "taken a hit" from the edge of the current cell moving through.

"There has been extensive flooding affecting the east coast of Punaruku, Ōakura and Ngunguru. The roads to Punaruku, Ōakura and Ngunguru have been closed due to surface flooding and land slips.

"Campgrounds are also open, but are supporting tourists and local whānau in the immediate area."

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Ngātiwai Iwi opened its Tuparehuia (Bland Bay), Ngāiotonga (Punaruku), Ōtetao and Mōkau marae to shelter whānau and community members who have been displaced by flooding.

"We are experiencing an extreme and highly concentrated weather event that has caused significant damage across our rohe," the Iwi's Trust Board said on Facebook.

"Many of our kāinga have been severely impacted, with homes flooded, slips, bridges washed out, and widespread flooding. While we endured Cyclone Gabrielle, the impacts we are seeing now feel even more severe in some areas."

Ōakura resident Doug Hanna said the flooding hit in the early hours of Sunday morning, with many locals sleeping through the danger.

"We were woken at 2.30am by incredibly heavy rain … it didn't let up until after 7am so it just went on and on and on," he said.

"We've had flooding before, but never this bad."

Hanna went door-to-door between 5am and 6am, waking neighbours whose cars were close to being submerged.

"Everyone just thought it was heavy rain. None of them realised it was flooding until they looked outside."

He told 1News that floodwaters had since dropped significantly, but at their peak were knee deep in some areas.

"We had a forecast that was going to be wet, but we didn't anticipate such a huge amount of rain so hard and fast, everyone was very surprised.

"We just weren't warned of it really."

Amy Tipene told 1News she was heading to Auckland for her son's football academy when she came across flooding at Scows Landing, between Ngunguru and Whangārei.

"It was pretty scary as the river was breaking its bank and still rising," she said.

Whangārei District Council said surface flooding affected vehicle access to Whangaruru Peninsula, Bland Bay, Punaruku, Ōakura, and Helena Bay.

Russel Rd was open to one lane between SH1 and Ōakura, Whangaruru North Rd and Whangaruru Wharf Rd were still blocked by multiple slips across both lanes, with Whakanaki North Rd flooded in multiple places.

Lines company Northpower reported around 750 properties without power as of 10am.

The areas of Ngunguru, Helena Bay, Ōakura, Punaruku and Whangaruru have been cut off by flooding, a Whangarei District Council spokesperson said.

"Please do not attempt to travel in or out of these areas until rain and flooding clears."

Police said motorists are advised to avoid travel due to flooding and slips between Whangaruru and Helena Bay.

"Police have received multiple calls this morning, reports of intense flooding and slips in the Whangaruru, Oakua, and Helena Bay areas, especially on Russel Rd.

"Thankfully, at this stage there are no reported injuries. Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and delay travel where possible.

Whananaki Civil Defence will open the fire station for anyone who needs support, according to the district council.