Strong wind and heavy rain are causing power cuts and car crashes across Tamaki Makaurau.
Aucklanders have faced a chaotic commute ahead of the long weekend for the city's anniversary with some ferries cancelled, and crashes on the northwestern and southwestern motorways.
An amber alert is in place for the Harbour Bridge until midday, meaning speeds are reduced and lanes could close.
Auckland ferries have been severely disrupted after a cruise ship lost its spring - the rope which attaches it to the wharf - this morning.
A Ports of Auckland spokesperson confirmed the ship had to use its engine to reattach itself.
Auckland ferries have been severely disrupted after a cruise ship lost its spring on 27 January, 2023. Photo: RNZ / Eli Orzessek
The ship was the Noordam, which arrived in Auckland this morning and berthed at Princes Wharf.
The spokesperson said there were significant gusts of wind as the boat was reattached. It has meant ferries were held in Waitemata Harbour.
The website for Fullers Ferry lists several services - including from Devonport, Waiheke, Bayswater, Half Moon Bay and Birkenhead - as disrupted due to an incident with a cruise ship
Ferries were already being disrupted by poor weather which has hit the region, causing the cancellation of some services this morning.
Photo: RNZ/Jonty Dine
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Auckland and Northland with bands of heavy rain and thunderstorms expected to move across Northland during the day and Auckland north of about Albany until early evening.
Some of these thunderstorms may produce downpours of 25 to 40 millimetres an hour, MetService said.
Orange heavy rain warnings are in place for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane and Mount Taranaki.
MetService said winds gusting 80km/h are also expected in Auckland over the coming days.
Vector's power outage map indicates cuts in Glen Eden, from West Coast Road extending south to Taiwini.
More than 1000 homes were also without power in Northland just before Friday midday.
By 10am Friday, Auckland Council had already had 30 requests for help and attended three flooding incidents.
The heavy rain has also meant black flag alerts have had to be issued at some Auckland beaches, due to wastewater overflows.
The "very high risk" warning is set to be in place until Sunday morning, when it drops to the red "high risk" alert.
The subtropical low is bringing heavy rain to Northland and Coromandel as well as Auckland.
Part of State Highway 25A in Coromandel, which was already damaged by heavy rain earlier this month, has been closed again.
The road is one of the key roads for holidaymakers and locals travelling around Coromandel.
Waka Kotahi said the road between Kopu and Hikuai was closed until further notice due to "further road movement in wet conditions".
It is asking people to use alternative routes.