Teams from councils, contractors, and power networks are out this morning assessing damage across the region.

In the meantime, all Northland agencies and emergency services are urging the public to limit travel, take extreme care on the roads, and avoid driving through floodwaters. Emergency services continued to carry out rescues from vehicles trapped in floodwaters throughout yesterday evening.

In Kaitāia, emergency services assisted with the evacuation of residents overnight after some homes began experiencing flooding or were at risk of flooding from the Awanui River. The main area affected covered roughly three streets at the northern end of Kaitāia.

Around 40 people were provided accommodation at Kaitāia College overnight. Assessment teams will be out this morning checking the evacuated areas and river conditions to confirm when it’s safe for residents to return, with the aim of getting people back home as soon as possible.

River levels on the Awanui and surrounding waterways have now receded and are currently sitting below warning thresholds.

The MetService heavy rain warning for Northland was lifted at 4am this morning (Friday). However, the region’s roading network, along with parts of the electricity network, has been significantly impacted. The majority of rivers across Northland have now peaked and are receding.

Rainfall totals from 4pm Wednesday to 4am this morning show the highest accumulations at Waimamaku at Wekaweka Road in Waima (275mm), the upper Ngunguru River at Dugmores Rock (245mm), and Whakapara at Puhipuhi (239.5mm). Notably, both the highest and lowest rainfall figures were recorded on Northland’s west coast, with lower totals at the Awaroa at Wallace Road in Ruawai (68.5mm) and the Kaipara Harbour at Pouto Point (22.5mm).

Emergency services across the region have worked tirelessly throughout this event, and we extend our thanks for their ongoing efforts to keep communities safe.

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