Rain eases in Auckland, but huge clean-up job ahead

The worst of the wet and wild weather is over in Auckland after a deluge lefts some areas swamped in waist-deep water at the weekend.

Auckland residents should expect fine weather to emerge later in the day as they continue the clean up from the weekend's monsoon-like rain and strong winds.

MetService has forecast morning showers for the city before fine spells emerge later on Monday for a top of 23C.

"We can, however, still expect some showers, but nowhere near the intensity that we have experienced over the last five days," Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management Director John Dragicevich said.

Meanwhile, after a hectic 90 hours of torrential rain, flooding, and road slips, a massive clean up is under way for North Island residents who had homes, farms and property damaged during the once in a 50 year downpour.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff has been out with Civil Defence crews in Clevedon, southeast of Auckland, assessing damage.

The Ministry of Education says some schools may be closed on Monday as a result of flood damage.

The Fire Service said it was called to 321 properties in Auckland on Sunday, of which 225 were in west Auckland.

It had responded to 582 emergency calls from 6am on Sunday.

At the peak of the deluge across Auckland, Waikato and into Rotorua the Fire Service was receiving a 111 call every 24 seconds.

Homes were flooded in the Auckland suburbs of Glen Eden, Titirangi, Green Bay and New Lynn.

Ten people were rescued from flooded shops in New Lynn and a Bunnings store was evacuated after its floor was raised 300mm.

Further up the road in Kelston, 12 residents were evacuated from a multi-dwelling residential block.

Dany Madawalaliyanage and families in a New Lynn block of flats were hit particularly hard, Radio NZ reports.

Mr Madawalaliyanage said metre-high water, mud and debris gushed into his flat within 10 to 15 seconds making it impossible to save his car or most of his belongings.

Auckland Council said response teams had met with the residents and provided emergency accommodation overnight, while the Bunnings had also been deemed safe to open on Monday.

New Lynn MP David Cunliffe shared images of the massive flood damage in central New Lynn.

Pictures from Sunday posted on the New Lynn Community Facebook page show one resident walking in water up to his armpits, others breaking out kayaks and lakes where parks used to be.

Further south flooding has subsided on State Highway 1 between Huntly and Rangiriri.

At Rotorua, a bridge was washed out near Ngongotaha and the Utuhina Stream has burst its banks, endangering properties.

A car ended also up in a creek on SH41 at Tokaanu.

The army was called in to help hundreds of people to safety when floods hit the Sundaise Festival near Waihi on Friday night.

Across the country, where large falls hit Coromandel, the Bay of Plenty and Wellington, the weather is also expected to clear.

Wellington is expected to be cloudy with occasional rain and a high of 16C.

NIWA says Auckland rainfall typically ranges from 75mm to 110mm in March but some places, such as Albany and Mangere, recorded more than 100mm within 24 hours.

The downpour included 27.6mm of rainfall between 5pm and 6pm on Friday to equal Auckland's wettest March hour since records began in 1965.