Damage and flooding extensive, with worst-effected areas on the east coast and far north of the North Island. Follow the updates live
Prime minister Chris Hipkins is giving an update now on the emergency response. he says the government is still trying to track the extent of the damage.
“It will take us a while to get a handle on exactly what’s happened,” he says. “A lot of families displaced a lot of homes. without power, Extensive damage done across the country.”
