Weather

About 25 properties in the Far North are without power following last week's storm damage.

Some Aucklanders said the severe weather alerts, sent several minutes of each other on Saturday, were too little too late, with flooding reported on Easter Friday night. Audio

Heavy rain has continued to pelt central New Zealand, as the holiday weekend comes to a close.

Another emergency alert was issued for severe thunderstorms in the Auckland region this evening.

Electricity was knocked out to hundreds of properties during ex-Cyclone Tam, followed by intense thunderstorms which hit the city overnight.

Emergency services are searching for a man who fell into a fast-moving Waikato river this morning.

Auckland councillor and residents say there was a concerning delay in notifications before Easter Friday's flooding and intense overnight storms. Audio

The incident in Hamilton comes after a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the Auckland region.

While ex-Cyclone Tam is still churning away in the Tasman Sea, warnings remain for Tasman, Taranaki and Tairāwhiti, and visitors at a holiday park have been told they may have to evacuate.

Far North deputy mayor Kelly Stratford said there had been widespread flooding in low lying areas. This was exacerbated by storm surge.

The Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne's have been hammered by heavy rain and strong winds.

Kelly Stratford's comments come as thousands of Northlanders are without mobile phones, broadband and or power due to ex Tropical Cyclone Tam.

Nearly 8000 homes remain without power as in Northland and Auckland Airport has recorded the strongest northeasterly gust since 2017.

New Zealanders are beginning to take to the road as the long Easter weekend kicks off.

The storm has already brought down powerlines and trees, closed roads, cancelled ferries and flights, and damaged property.

Esme Barber said her young daughter and babysitter had just stepped out of the car when the tree fell.