Auckland’s beaches are closed and residents should stay out of the water this weekend after last week’s devastating deluge, the region’s emergency management authorities said.

Many Waitangi Day events have been cancelled as what is expected to be a lengthy recovery and clean-up continues.

Auckland Emergency Management duty controller Rachel Kelleher said although the weather had improved, the ocean, including beaches at Kaipara Harbour, was not safe for swimming.

“Region-wide, please stay out of water this weekend. This is for your health and safety.”

Mayor Wayne Brown told Aucklanders to respect the rāhui placed in the inner Waitematā Harbour by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei kaumātua following wastewater spills and public health restrictions.

“Aucklanders should follow this rāhui,” Brown said.

“I also want to acknowledge the emergency response support from local iwi and Māori community groups, which shows the importance of working in partnership.”

The annual Waitangi Day ki Ōkahu event has been cancelled following flooding at Ōrākei Marae while Manukau Urban Māori Authority made the tough decision to cancel their family event Waitangi ki Manukau as it could not be held at Hayman Park.

 “It’s regrettable that, after three years of event cancellations due to Covid, thousands of Aucklanders are not able to enjoy these and other free community events this Waitangi Day,” Brown said.

“I want to acknowledge local iwi, community leaders, and Māori community groups for making the call to put whanau safety first.”

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Several Waitangi Day celebrations, including Waitangi at Waititi hosted by Te Whānau o Waipareira, will go ahead as planned across Tāmaki Makaurau.

Rachel Kelleher from Auckland Emergency Management said the weather event would have a “long tail” and recovery could take years.

“We will need to work on that recovery programme for many, many months if not years ahead.

“Some property owners will have to make some big decisions about their houses and what they do with them. Those remedial works may not be resolved in weeks or months.”

As of Sunday 1pm, 261 buildings in Auckland had been red-stickered, meaning they cannot be used or entered as the moderate or heavy damage poses a significant risk to health or life.

There were 1478 buildings that had been yellow-stickered.

Roads & public transport: Plans to open Tamaki Dr in next 24 hours

Several more roads in Auckland had reopened over the last couple days and public transport was largely back to normal, Keheller said. She believed around 25 roads remained closed.

Authorities were hoping Tamaki Drive could be opened with single-lane access within the next 24 hours.

For those travelling north, State Highway 1 to the Brynderwyns is open one-way northbound today. This will be reversed tomorrow to one-way southbound, Keheller said.

The detour via Mangawhai is open and heavy vehicles should use SH12 and SH14.

Residents in Titirangi are still being asked to reduce their water usage.

Meanwhile, council welfare teams were out on the streets meeting with affected people. More than 200 staff, who would be easily identifiable, were expected to be door-knocking to assess the damage left by last week’s torrential rain.

Two Civil Defence Centres remain open in Auckland: one in Randwick Park and another in Henderson. The Albany centre closed last night due to low need.

There are three community support hubs open in Auckland. They are:

• Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Pool and Leisure Centre, 66R Mascot Ave, Māngere (24 hours)
• New Lynn Community Centre, 45 Totara Avenue, New Lynn (9am – 5pm)
• Birkenhead Leisure Centre, 46 Mahara Avenue, Birkenhead (9am-5pm)

Keheller said there was immediate financial support available to eligible people affected by the flooding. Applicants did not need to be receiving a benefit and, in most cases, it did not matter how much they earned or what assets they owned.

Non-residents might be eligible for the payment, as well, she said.

Payments could be used for food, bedding, costs if you’ve had to leave your home due to the flooding or if you have evacuees staying in your place, such as a private home or marae.

People wishing to discuss what they might be entitled to can call 0800 400 100.

Kelleher said there had been 1700 visits to Auckland’s 15 transfer stations as the region continued cleaning up from the devastating weather.

So far, 620 tonnes of waste had been dropped off, Kelleher said.

Anyone who could not remove the waste from the property themselves and needed help could call 0800 22 22 00, Kelleher said.

A large slip on the cliff face under the Ocean Breeze Hotel on Bayswater Ave Bayswater as heavy rain hits Auckland causing widespread flooding New Zealand Herald photograph by Brett Phibbs 01 February 2023

Acknowledging the flooding would have had a big impact on people, Kelleher said anyone experiencing anxiety or issues with their wellbeing could free-text 1737 to be connected with a counsellor.

There were many people who wanted to volunteer and help out with the flood recovery in Auckland and the aim was to match the volunteers’ skills with the jobs that needed to be done.

Kelleher said the fine weather today was a big boost to morale.

“People have been looking for that blue sky.”

The sun would be helping with the clean-up and offer a good chance for people to open their windows and doors and get some airflow into their homes.

On Friday, Auckland mayor Wayne Brown extended the State of Emergency another week as residents across the city clean up the mess left behind by the devastating weather.

A Herald analysis of data provided by several sources showed over the past week the biggest deluge fell in West Auckland’s New Lynn.

The area with the most red-stickered homes was the Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa ward area while Māngere locals needed the most rescues in the flooding.

Henderson residents needed the most assistance from the fire brigade after a river in the area rose quickly, the data showed.