A severe weather system has triggered a State of Emergency across the Far North and Whangārei districts to combat "life-threatening floods," while in Taranaki MetService have issued an Orange Heavy Rain Warning for Mount Taranaki, and an Orange Strong Wind Warning for South & Central Taranaki.
In a statement, Civil Defence Taranaki have advised residents to secure loose property and prepare for potentially hazardous driving conditions on exposed routes like State Highway 3.
Up north, a Red Heavy Rain Warning is currently battering Northland areas east of Kaikohe, stretching from Doubtless Bay to Whangārei.
Emergency officials have warned residents there of a "direct threat to life" as river levels rise rapidly.
Both the Far North District and Whangārei District enacted a State of Emergency. These declarations grant emergency responders and council staff additional powers to act quickly as the flooding evolves.
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania and Emergency Operations Centre Controller Alastair Wells jointly announced their district's declaration, while Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper and Controller Victoria Harwood made a matching order for their region.
Extreme weather has already isolated Kaitāia, Whananaki, the Tutukaka Coast and the Northland settlement of Oakura.
Tepania urged people to delay all non-essential travel until floodwaters recede, which he hopes will happen after low tide on Friday.
He confirmed nine local roads are currently impassable due to flooding, alongside sections of State Highways 1 and 10.
While State Highway 10 remained passable for four-wheel-drive vehicles earlier on Thursday, Tepania expected it to close completely as the east coast high tide peaked around 2.20pm near Kāeo.
He added that the west coast of Northland will feel the full impact of the floods when its tide peaks at about 4.30pm.
New Zealand Transport Agency confirmed State Highway 1 is closed at Rangiahua due to severe flooding near the one-lane bridge connecting Ōkaihau and Mangamuka.
The crucial route is also shut at the Mangamuka Gorge and near the Mangamuka township.
"Please delay travel if possible," an NZTA spokesperson said. "You should only travel if absolutely necessary."
As well as parts of Taranaki, Orange Heavy Rain warnings cover Auckland north of Whangaparāoa, Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula, the Hunua Range, the Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne, the Westland Ranges, Tasman northwest of Motueka, the Richmond and Bryant ranges, the Rai Valley, North Otago and Canterbury south of Timaru and east of Otematata.
Orange Strong Wind Warnings are also active for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, the remainder of Northland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Taihape and Whanganui.
