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The big storm hitting the upper North Island caused chaos on Tuesday night.
In the Far North, torrential rain which fell for much of the day resulted in widespread flooding, isolating many communities, sending trees toppling and leaving some people with very lucky escapes. A Civil Defence emergency has been declared.
In Auckland, wild wind and rain caused chaos with up to 100,000 people without power on Tuesday night.
Northern parts of the country are bracing themselves for more of the same as severe weather warnings continue for Auckland, Northland and Coromandel.
The Far North took the worst of the weather on Tuesday with buildings inundated and roads impassable.
Dozens of Far North communities were isolated and others were without power or fresh water as torrential rain and gale force winds lashed the region.
Emergency services were on the scene quickly to free a driver trapped in his car and phoning for help. A landslip sent a tree plummeting to the busy roads below.
"Yeah it was a bit of a shock," says Warren Wright of Kerikeri, the driver. "We just had a little altercation with a tree. It just fell on the back of our car. Luckily we were in the front and weren't hurt."
And it was from one callout to another for emergency services.
"We do have concern for an elderly woman on a ventilator and we are looking at when we get an appropriate vehicle to go and get her, take her into town and to the hospital where she can be looked after without the threat of power cuts," says Sergeant Patrick Davis of Kawakawa police.
But it was already candlelight for many as thousands faced blackouts around the region.
"We've had no power since 11 o'clock. We're just setting up emergency accommodation here for anyone who'd like to come and help," says Lucy Farrant of Kawakawa ambulance station.
They are unlikely to be the only ones with many roads around the Far North being closed.
A road worker says there are massive slips and washouts about
every three kilometres from Whangarei on towards Opua.
Emergency services are being called out all around Northland and
conditions are expected to get worse with more than a month's
rainfall due in the next 24 hours.
Kaeo is thought to be the worst hit area and the main road leading in is under water.
"We are trying to close the roads. We still have people going through there though, but it's at their own risk," says a road worker.
The main bridge at Kerikeri is also a washout, but still a way from reaching the country's oldest building.
With emergency crews so stretched, people are being told to simply hold on.
Sergeant Davis says police are trying to reassure people that police are there and are doing the best they can.
Whangarei
In and around Whangarei, school holiday plans have been postponed because of the heavy downpours.
Paddocks became lakes under the onslaught of rain, and stormwater systems struggled to cope.
Many rural mail customers missed out on Tuesday and New Zealand Post says tomorrow looks doubtful too.
Travelling on state highways has been treacherous. Trees and flooding meant drivers were warned off the road and many roads had police diversions in place.
And in Whangarei itself swamped businesses had to close.
A large swathe of the Whangarei District is without power and expected to remain that way throughout the night and into Wednesday according to Northpower.
Whangarei District Council is asking people to check on neighbours if it is safe to do so, particularly if they are elderly or infirm as power cuts often affect phones and these people may be having trouble calling out.
The power cuts have affected water plants so people are asked to minimise water consumption.
Helpline
The Ministry of Social Development has extended the government helpline for people affected by last week's weather in Taranaki to the upper North Island for people who may be affected by the latest storms.
Anyone needing assistance from government services can phone
0800 77 99 97. The helpline offers a co-ordinated
service for people affected by the adverse weather.
For updates on State Highways
click
here
For up to date information on weather in your region head to tvnz.co.nz's weather page
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