Five areas in the North Island are now under precautionary state of emergencies as severe rain causes widespread flooding.
Gisborne Tai Rāwhiti become the fifth to declare a State of Emergency in the North Island in response to forecast heavy rain and widespread flooding, joining Coromandel, Whangārei, Bay of Plenty and the Hauraki District.
MetService has red rain warnings in place for Northland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.
In Northland, 22 homes in Oakura are being evacuated due to the risk of more landslides.
Omaunu Road in Kāeo is passable only to four-wheel-drives or other high vehicles. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
In Coromandel, dozens of people in Thames have been evacuated after flooding and State Highway 25 is closed from Coromandel to south of Whitianga.
In the South Island, there is a heavy rain warning for Tasman, west of Mapua, and heavy rain watches for Tasman and Nelson Districts, east of about Mapua, Buller and Grey District, and Canterbury.
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