Weather

A local state of emergency has been declared after the district was lashed by heavy rains overnight.

Local Colin Payne said waters close to three metres high had come through his property overnight.

Engineers' concerns over bridge damage mean two of the three main access routes may close in severe flooding.

Orange heavy rain warnings remain in place for several regions, and some households have been without power overnight.

Almost two dozen members of the community rallied to save what they could from the sodden Ōtorohanga Museum, but the full extent of the damage is still unknown.

Record rainfall in both the North and South Islands in January saw flows coming into the lakes exceed historical averages.

Residents are "shocked and devastated", but the council warns the order to leave "cannot be ignored".

A Te Araroa family are looking to move into a Toitū Tai Rāwhiti cabin after a landslide destroyed their hillside home.

Rain is on the way for almost all of the North Island, including areas badly battered last month.

Another summer of extreme weather has destroyed and damaged homes, cut off communities and, in the most tragic cases, left families mourning their loved ones.

You may need to keep your raincoats handy as the warm weather may take a turn this weekend. Audio

Recent severe storms triggered more than 11,000 slips on the East Cape, according to satellite imagery.

The hot weather across much of the country is come to an end this weekend, as possible heavy rain and strong winds move in.

Students cut off from their high schools by a monster slip northeast of Whangārei are instead taking lessons at a temporary 'education hub' set up at a local primary school.