A body has been found in Wairau Valley on Auckland’s North Shore as floodwaters swamp the city’s homes, block motorways and close the international airport.

Police were notified at around 7.25pm after the body was seen by a member of the public, near Target Rd. The Herald understands the body was found in a culvert.

A warning over the rain in the city has been extended to 3am by MetService.

A state of emergency has been declared in Auckland tonight as torrential rain and flooding hits the city - with warnings that a further deluge is possible.

Fire and Emergency says it is dealing with an estimated 1500 calls for help.

Civil Defence Minister Kieran McAnulty announced the state of emergency on Twitter.

“The Mayor of Auckland has declared a state of emergency. NEMA [National Emergency Management Agency] can now provide additional support and resources from other regions. I’m continuing to receive live updates from NEMA, liaising with Auckland based MPs and updating the Prime Minister as needed,” McAnulty said.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon was urging the mayor to make the call.

”High tide hits after midnight and we need a list of evacuation centres for folk to head to,” he said in a tweet. A state of emergency would “give our brilliant emergency response teams the tools they need to respond,” he said.

Earlier, Senior Labour Minister and MP for Mount Roskill, Michael Wood, said on Twitter the final call on a formal declaration sits with Mayor Wayne Brown. Brown’s office has been approached for comment.

Auckland Councillor Jo Bartley urged Brown on social media to declare a state of emergency.

“You just have to look online to see the chaos out there. No need to wait. Declare state of emergency,”

A slip has come down on Shore Rd in Remuera. Photo / Supplied

Auckland Emergency Management has opened a Civil Defence centre to assist those in need at Saint Leonards Road School in West Auckland’s Kelston.

Auckland Emergency Management’s duty controller Andrew Clark says the region is expecting the severe weather to continue until the early hours of tomorrow.

“There are reports that some parts of the region have experienced a summer’s worth of rain in a few hours and that has resulted in significant flooding.”

“We continue to urge people to be vigilant and keep an eye on the weather forecast and your property”

“If it is safe to stay home, please do so. If you need to evacuate and can stay with family and friends, please do so in the first instance”.

“If you have nowhere to go or are in need of assistance, we have established a Civil Defence Centre at Kelston.”

“Please remember to never drive through floodwaters.

“If you do need to evacuate, please take essential items, like medicines, with you,” he said.

MP Wood said it was “the worst flooding I have ever seen and more may come overnight”.

“The best advice remains that issued by Auckland Emergency Management,” he said.

“This is a serious event and authorities are co-ordinating. If you need help then don’t delay. Call someone with the means to assist or if serious, emergency services,” said Wood.

Across the city at Mairangi Bay on the North Shore, a resident has reported seeing the local Surf Lifesaving crew dragging the inflatable rescue boats through flooded streets to assist with rescuing stranded people.

Green MP Ricardo Menendez March posted to Twitter that he was among the Aucklanders being evacuated.

Flooding has also swamped Auckland Airport, with photos showing water at calf height.

Civil Defence meets on state of emergency decision

Local defence authorities are currently meeting to discuss how to respond to the ongoing crisis.

A spokesperson for Auckland emergency management said no decision has been made yet whether to declare a state of emergency and could not confirm if it was being considered in the meeting.

A line of severe thunderstorms have been detected across the Auckland region, triggering a severe thunderstorm warning from MetService.

Meanwhile, residents in flood-prone areas of West Auckland are being asked to prepare to evacuate with the city’s mayor telling residents to stay safe and follow instructions of emergency workers. 

It comes as Fire and Emergency assistant area commander Chris Delfos says a weather bomb hit from Massey to Swanson leaving people trapped on roofs and in their cars.

He said firefighters used jet skis, inflatable rescue craft and kayaks to pluck people to safety.

This evening fans heading to the Elton John concert at Auckland’s Mount Smart stadium were told the gig had been cancelled at the last minute.

Auckland Emergency Management has activated its Emergency Coordination Centre and is prepared to support Auckland’s Emergency Services if needed, following periods of intense rain today. 

Duty Controller Andrew Clark said it is an evolving situation and that they are working with partner agencies to monitor the situation on the ground and to establish what assistance is required. 

Flooding in Auckland on Beach Rd. Photo / Supplied

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is urging residents affected by flooding to stay safe and take advice from emergency responders. 

”We want to make sure that all residents are kept informed, and emergency services are able to reach those who are most vulnerable and at risk as quickly as possible. Do not put yourself at risk,” said Brown. 

Auckland Emergency Management tonight warned the severe weather across the city was worsening and it was trying to assess what action was needed. 

It warned those in flood-prone areas to prepare to evacuate and warned others to stay home as the torrential rain worsened, saying people should check on friends and neighbours if it was safe to do so. 

Civil Defence said people should keep off the roads and out of flood zones: “Do not drive through flood waters.” 

It said people should listen for any updates on the radio and should plan for evacuations, ensuring they had essential items like medication ready to go. 

It comes as a fresh region-wide severe thunderstorm alert was issued just after 7pm. 

Auckland’s northern motorway has ground to a halt north of the Auckland Harbour Bridge due to flooding at rush hour with stranded bus passengers forced to walk to safety. 

Rising floodwaters have left streets and homes swamped in Ranui with every fire truck in the city responding to emergency callouts. Firefighters have used ropes to rescue stranded people from swamped homes. 

As well as west Auckland, there is significant flooding on North Shore streets around Milford. Videos and photo show streets swamped with water. 

This evening flooding on State Highway One north of the harbour bridge left lanes blocked in both directions between Northcote and Esmonde Rds. Queues of cars were gridlocked with motorists told to expect delays or consider an alternative route. 

Dramatic footage shows the floodwater washing over motorway barriers into already flooded bus lanes and washing inside packed commuter buses. 

Every fire truck in Auckland was responding to priority emergencies, with more than 400 calls to Fire and Emergency NZ for help, as rain drenches the city and many suburbs are hit by flooding. 

This evening the NZDF were part of community rescue efforts in west Auckland with a fire truck, a Unimog truck and a four-wheel drive vehicle being used. 

A witness near a flooded Camphora Rd in Ranui said the Defence Force had arrived to help with evacuations. 

Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) urged people to only call 111 if life or safety is at risk. They said the volume of calls had caused delays. 

“If water is entering property, people should do what they can to lift furniture and possessions, without putting themselves at risk,” FENZ said. 

Slips trap motorists 

This evening around 18 vehicles were trapped between two slips on SH1 about 3km north of the Puhoi Tunnel. 

A stricken motorist pleaded for emergency services to rescue him. 

”If anyone’s listening can you send some heavy machinery to give us a hand out of here please.” 

He said the roadside bank collapsed, just missing a car, with “upwards of 50 people” trapped north of the Puhoi Tunnel. 

Lightning strikes plane 

Auckland Airport this evening said it had reduced runway operations after an arriving aircraft damaged runway lighting. 

“This is largely impacting international arrivals and departures and larger aircraft travelling domestically. 

“Our operational teams have cleared the debris and are now assessing the damage.” 

Severe thunderstorms rolling in 

MetService has also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Auckland and parts of Northland after a “line of severe storms” was detected. 

“These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain,” MetService said. 

“An Auckland Council weather station just registered 60mm (!!) of rain in an hour,” it said. 

“This will cause surface flooding. Take care on the roads and minimise travel where possible.” 

Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) said its crews are responding to more than 400 emergency calls in Auckland due to the weather. 

“Calls, where people are in danger, are being given priority,” FENZ said. 

“People are urged to only call 111 if life or safety is at risk because the volume of calls has been causing delays in answering them. Every fire truck in Auckland is responding to the priority calls.” 

FENZ said if water is entering property, people should do what they can to lift furniture and possessions, without putting themselves at risk. 

“Please do not ring 111 for calls about flooded property if there is no threat to life or safety. People are also advised to stay off the roads except for essential travel.” 

Police advised the public to not travel to West Coast beaches due to the sea conditions. 

Swanson Road in West Auckland. Photo / Supplied 

Motorway mayhem 

Earlier a car was left trapped in flooding on Auckland’s Northern Motorway as rising water brought traffic going in both directions to a standstill. 

People are attempting to extract the car near the Northcote on-ramp on Auckland’s North Shore. 

A witness told NZME that an ambulance travelled the wrong way down the motorway to get through. 

A car has been trapped in flooding on Auckland's northern motorway as rising water brings traffic going in both directions to a standstill. Photo / Supplied 

A new heavy rain warning has been issued for Auckland, with warnings of up to 80mm of rain in addition to 120mm which has already fallen. 

MetService made the new warning at 3.33pm, saying downpours of up to 55mm an hour are possible until 10pm tonight. 

Waka Kotahi NZTA tweeted that State Highway 1 between SH12 and Waipu is now due to slips. 

Niwa tweeted that the Auckland area has been hit with “a summer’s worth of rain” already according to their records. 

“Auckland has *already* received a summer’s worth of rain (recording 237 mm), with over a month left to go,” Niwa said in its Twitter post. 

Rain, potential thunderstorms and strong winds are playing havoc with the droves of long weekend holidaymakers expected to leave Auckland today for the region’s anniversary holiday. 

Shoppers at Westfield Mall Albany were left waiting in “one of the worst rain storms” after being evacuated this afternoon. 

”Pouring rain, sprinklers going off in Farmers and fire alarm in mall resulted in families trying to find shelter,” shopper Dave Mason told the Herald. 

Photographs show people huddled under verandas with few dressed for the wet weather. 

MetService has placed heavy rain warnings across Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel, parts of the Bay of Plenty and Mt Taranaki, which are due to stretch through most of Friday. 

Westfield Albany was evacuated this afternoon, leaving shoppers seeking whatever shelter from the rain they could find. Photo / Dave Mason 

A severe thunderstorm watch is also in place in Northland and Auckland until 7pm tonight. 

“Bands of heavy rain and embedded thunderstorms are expected to move across Northland and Auckland today,” MetService said. 

Downpours are already drenching the region. 

Kaikohe, in the Far North, recorded 32mm in half an hour between 7.30-8am today. 

Castlerock in the Coromandel Ranges has had 151mm of rain in the past 24 hours, making it the wettest spot across the country, MetService said. 

A strong wind warning is also in place for Auckland. 

Two popular Auckland events have been cancelled as wild weather wreaks havoc on the city. 

”Due to the current weather conditions in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Auckland Council and NZ Opera have made the joint decision to postpone this weekend’s Opera in the Park. The concert has been rescheduled and will now take place on Saturday, March 4, from 6pm-8pm at Glover Park, St Heliers,” the council said in a statement. 

Miserable summer weather hits Auckland on January 27. Photo / Michael Craig 

“While this is a huge disappointment to all involved, the decision has been made due to health and safety concerns for our audience, our crew, artists and also to the park itself. Movies in the Parks Manurewa has also cancelled its event planned for tonight.” 

A decision on whether Movies in the Park Pukekohe and Movies in the Park Onehunga is yet to be made.