A landslip in Waiwera, north of Auckland, forced the evacuation of several residents this morning, as heavy rain warnings remain in place across parts of Auckland and Northland ahead of the Anzac long weekend.
Video from the scene showed debris covering a road, while a large tree had fallen onto a house below, damaging part of the roof.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) said it was alerted to the slip at about 6.30 am. Crews from Silverdale and Puhoi attended the scene and assessed the danger posed by another unstable tree. Police and emergency services evacuated residents from 18 nearby properties as a precaution.
"Everyone has been accounted for," said FENZ assistant district commander Quin Webster, as quoted by 1News.
Webster said Auckland Council had been contacted and a geotechnical engineer was arranged to assess the site.
One resident, Luke Baker, said he was woken by a "loud bang" when part of a fallen log crashed through his roof, as quoted by 1News.
“[The] main part of it fell into someone else’s house, and the log fell through my roof this morning,” 1News has quoted.
Baker described the ordeal as “kind of terrifying”.
Following the slip, he and his neighbours were evacuated from the residential complex.
“It’s unsafe. We don’t know what’s going to happen now.”
He said he hoped to return soon to retrieve his car and belongings.
“I just hope they can sort it and get it fixed as soon as possible.”
According to 1News, the incident comes as MetService warns of severe weather across northern parts of the North Island. Orange heavy rain warnings are in place for eastern Northland south of Kawakawa, Great Barrier Island, and eastern Auckland north of Whangaparāoa.
Heavy rain watches also cover other parts of Northland, Auckland north of Papakura, and the Coromandel Peninsula north of Whitianga.
MetService said: "A low and associated trough are expected to bring heavy rain, with the potential for localised downpours, to northern parts of the North Island until Friday night".
Forecasters say eastern Northland could receive up to 150mm of rain, including bursts of up to 25mm per hour, with a low possibility the warning could be upgraded to red status.
According to 1News, North-east Auckland and Great Barrier Island may see up to 120mm of rain before conditions ease later in the day.
"Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.
"Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously," as quoted by 1News.
Despite the wet conditions in the north, MetService says much of the country can expect improving weather for Anzac Day and the remainder of the long weekend.
Some showers could affect dawn services along Northland’s eastern coast, but conditions are expected to remain mostly dry elsewhere.
"Dawn services are looking mostly dry, but it will be a cold start, especially inland," Law said. "Waiouru is set to be one of the coldest spots, with temperatures around 1 °C at daybreak," 1News has quoted.
Meteorologists say sunshine and warmer daytime temperatures are likely across much of the South Island over the weekend, with Dunedin forecast to reach about 22C on Saturday.
High pressure is expected to dominate conditions through to Monday, bringing settled weather for most regions over the remainder of the holiday weekend.