SH 16 Kaukapakapa to Wellsford - Due to a slip SH16 is closed north of Cleasby Hill Lookout.SH 16 Glorit to Wellsford - Due to multiple slips and flooding, SH16 is now closed between Glorit and Tauhoa.SH1 between Kaiwaka and Mangawhai Road is under caution due to flooding and multiple slips.SH 1 Waipu to Brynderwyn - Due to large slips on the Brynderwyn Hills, SH1 is closed between Brynderwyn and Waipu until further notice.Warkworth to Puhoi - Due to a slip between Mahurangi West Rd and Schollum Access Rd, temporary traffic management is in place.Waipu / Langs - Cove road detour has slips and is closed. Detour routes northbound:- Light vehicles: use SH12 and Paparoa-Oakleigh Rd to Whangarei.- Heavy vehicles, excluding HPMV (unless permitted) use SH12 / SH14 via Dargaville to Whangarei.Pakiri Road is closed after Pakiri River Road to Goat Island Road.Devich Road is closed from Wallbank Way to Kopara Lane.Kiawaka Mangawhai Road is closed from Stewart Road to Lawrence Road.Kaiwaka Mangawhai Road has flooding and slips and not passable at Hill Top Road.Te Arai Downs bridge is underwater.Atiu Creek - Slip road is blocked.Wayby Valley - Flooded.Valley Road - closed due to surface flooding - receding.Settlement Road - closed due to surface flooding - receding.An alternative route between Matakana and Mangawahi is open via Whangaripo Valley, up Waitetei Road, and then Mangawhai Road.( Drive with caution as there are small passable slips)CAUTIONMatakana Valley Road has slips and a tree down.Mangawhai Road and Coal Hill Road to Te Airi Point Road.Grader on Millbrook Road - Heavy trafficROADS NOW OPENBrown RoadDome Valley is open but at a reduced speed, drive with caution.Tara Road - down to one lane accessLawrence Roadown - down to one lane accessBaldrock Road - down to one lane accessPebblebrooke Road- down to one lane accessGarbolino Road- down to one lane accessMangawhai Road - open for residents and people leaving MangawhaiSH1 between Kaiwaka and Mangawhai Rd is now OPEN under cautionSH1 Southbound just before Oteha Valley Road - Slips cleared drive with caution

Extreme weather event Mangawhai area l Places of shelterUPDATED: 6.35pm 24 Feb to include St John's Hall, KaiwakaWe are still experiencing extreme weather in the Mangawhai area. MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Kaipara, Whangarei and Rodney area. https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home#upper-northThese severe thunderstorms are moving towards the south southwest, and are expected to lie near WELLSFORD, KAIWAKA, MANGAWHAI, BRYNDERWYN, TE ARAI and WAIPU COVE at 06:00 pm and near WELLSFORD, KAIWAKA, MANGAWHAI, BRYNDERWYN, TE ARAI and WAIPU COVE at 06:30 pm. These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain.Please stay where you are and do not travel. The roads are extremely treacherous and you should not drive anywhere unless it's an emergency.If you need to leave your current place because you are concerned about water levels, you can go and shelter at: Mangawhai Kaipara District Council office, 6 Molesworth Drive (The Hub)Mangawhai Golf Club, 221 Molesworth DriveMangawhai Library Hall, 45 Moir Street St John's Hall in Kaiwaka (opp the 4square) is also open for stranded driversIf your life is at risk please dial 111 immediately.

CLOSEDWaipu / Langs - Cove road detour has slips and is closed. Detour routes northbound:- Light vehicles: use SH12 and Paparoa-Oakleigh Rd to Whangarei.- Heavy vehicles, excluding HPMV (unless permitted) use SH12 / SH14 via Dargaville to Whangarei.Mangawhai - Brown road floodingKaiwaka Mangawhai Roads has flooding and slips and not passable at Hill Top RoadKaiwaka - Settlement road and Valley road intersection where the bridge is is underwater.Te Arai Downs bridge is underwater.Mangawhai road has flooding near Te Arai.Hakaru - Brown road is floodedMangawhai - Pebblebrooke bridge is under waterMangawhai - 75 Garbolino - Big slip covering entire roadCAUTIONPakiri road has flooding and slipsMatakana Valley Road has slips and a tree down, may become impassable soon.Mangawhai- Tara road has flooding

Auckland's light rail project is "absolutely" going ahead, according to the minister in charge of both Auckland and transport.Michael Wood's resolute commitment comes at a time when many state highways across the country are in dire need of repair in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.But the minister says, now more than ever, it is important to invest in climate-friendly infrastructure."I am absolutely committed to this city and making these investments," he said on Thursday. "We cannot continue to kick the can down the road."That would mean Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's pledge ahead of the 2017 general election would appear to be coming to fruition."I am utterly determined about this," Wood said. "If there was such a thing as a spirit animal then mine is a donkey. I just keep going with these things, and I'll keep going with this one until we get it done."Much of the North Island was still grappling with the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, communities cut-off and state highways wiped out. But Wood said the massive repair jobs around the country could go hand-in-hand with Auckland's light rail network."Just this week we've invested an additional $250 million to make sure that we can get those roads fixed for people who need them in the regions. So, we're keeping an eye on that job."But if we just do that and don't fix the hole in the roof - which is climate change - by giving people more climate-friendly choices, we're only doing half the job." The Treasury had given a wide range in its budget estimates for the light rail project - between $7.3 billion and $29.2 billion. However, Wood doubted the project would reach the upper limit of this range."The project in 2021 dollars, when the indicative business case was set, is approximately $11 billion. In inflated terms, over the delivery timeframe of the project, it's approximately $14 billion."The light rail corridor was expected to link up with Auckland's other rail project: the City Rail Link. But there was still no firm timeline or budget for that project.And although the chief executive of City Rail Link (CRL) said there would be a new timeline in place by the end of last year, that can was now being kicked down the road further."Obviously, with a huge project like that, you have a little bit of uncertainty; you can't give an exact date or an exact week," Wood said."I think we'll have much more clarity by about the middle of the year."City Rail Link work on Lower Queen Street, early 2022. Photo: City Rail LinkCRL construction led to severe disruption and hardship for many businesses around Auckland's Albert Street. Auckland Light Rail chief executive Tommy Parker said he would bear these lessons in mind."We know that there's a lot of concern out there around disruption, around the challenge of building these big projects in an urban area."We know we can learn a lot from CRL and from other projects and do things better."Parker also said Auckland's flooding and cyclone damage of the last month would have a big bearing on the project going forward."It's definitely brought to the top of mind resilience planning, making sure that we're getting a resilient route, and considering the effects of climate change."Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham was one of 30 sites along the indicative route of the Auckland Light Rail project.Engineers were boring holes 10-80m deep at the sites to test soil samples, which would help them create a 3D picture of the conditions below ground along the proposed corridor.The initial stage of light rail would extend 24km from the city centre to Māngere. After that, the plan was to extend light rail west to Kumeū and north to Orewa.North Shore Ward councillor Chris Darby said, despite Mayor Wayne Brown's scepticism, there was widespread support for the project around the council table.But as for who was going to pay for all these tracks, he said it would absolutely not be the council."Let's be clear about that. It is a project of national significance taking place in Auckland, being funded directly from government."Auckland Light Rail said further ground investigations would take place over the next six months, confined mainly to parks and reserves to minimise disruption to residents.

Warkworth RegionFriday 24th February - Periods of rain, heavy at times. Thunderstorms and localised downpours possible from afternoon. Southeasterlies, dying out this evening.Heavy Rain Watch Period: 21hrs from 9am Fri, 24 Feb - 6am Sat, 25 FebArea: Auckland including Great Barrier IslandForecast: Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and downpours possible, especially from afternoon. Rainfall amounts may reach warning criteria. Note, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is also in force for this area.Severe Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 13hrs from 9am - 10pm Fri, 24 FebArea: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier IslandForecast: Scattered thunderstorms are expected about parts of the northern North Island today, with localised heavy rain and possible downpours. For southern Northland, Auckland north of Orewa and near the west coast about and west of the Waitakere ranges, and Great Barrier Island, a few of the thunderstorms could be severe with localised downpours of 25-50mm/h. The main risk is between about midday and 10pm today (Friday), but the risk could start on Great Barrier Island this morning (from 9am). Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain. The thunderstorms activity should ease late evening.Severe Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 7hrs from 5pm Fri, 24 Feb - midnight Fri, 24 FebArea: Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of PlentyForecast: Scattered thunderstorms are expected about parts of the northern North Island today, with localised heavy rain and possible downpours. For parts of Auckland south of Orewa and east of the Waitakere ranges, Coromandel Peninsula and western Bay of Plenty from about Tauranga northwards, a few of the thunderstorms could be severe with localised downpours of 25-40mm/h. The main risk of severe thunderstorms in this area is between about 5pm and midnight tonight (Friday). Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain. The thunderstorms activity should ease overnight.Saturday 25th February - Rain clearing in the morning to partly cloudy skies. Isolated showers in the afternoon. Light winds and afternoon sea breezes.Heavy Rain WatchPeriod: 21hrs from 9am Fri, 24 Feb - 6am Sat, 25 FebArea: Auckland including Great Barrier IslandForecast: Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and downpours possible, especially from afternoon. Rainfall amounts may reach warning criteria. Note, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is also in force for this area.Sunday 26th February - Mainly fine, isolated showers in the afternoon and evening. Light winds and afternoon sea breezes.Mangawhai RegionFriday 24th February - Partly cloudy. A few showers, some heavy, with a risk of thunderstorms and downpours from afternoon. Westerly breezes.Severe Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 13hrs from 9am - 10pm Fri, 24 FebArea: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier IslandForecast: Scattered thunderstorms are expected about parts of the northern North Island today, with localised heavy rain and possible downpours. For southern Northland, Auckland north of Orewa and near the west coast about and west of the Waitakere ranges, and Great Barrier Island, a few of the thunderstorms could be severe with localised downpours of 25-50mm/h. The main risk is between about midday and 10pm today (Friday), but the risk could start on Great Barrier Island this morning (from 9am). Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain. The thunderstorms activity should ease late evening.Saturday 25th February - Fine breaks. Light winds.Sunday 26th February - Mainly fine. Light winds.

Hundreds of cut-off residents in a West Auckland settlement are still without power or road access, 10 days after the cyclone.Karekare locals are relying on helicopter deliveries for long-life food and fuel for generators.With 16 slips in the area, only emergency services and Karekare's 300 residents are allowed to access the roads.Multiple houses were lost, and harrowing stories are emerging of narrow escapes.But despite testing times, locals said they were just grateful no lives were lost.RNZ rode with Karekare volunteer Fire Brigade chief officer Toby Hyman for a tour of Lone Kauri Road.'There's been such a catastrophe'Fire Brigade chief officer Toby Hyman says many have not heard just how badly Cyclone Gabrielle had hit West Auckland's Karekare. Photo: RNZ / Leonard PowellHyman, a marine engineer by profession, worked 37km away in Hobsonville and was getting to Karekare on a motorbike he had borrowed from his neighbour."Pretty much everybody I've spoken to that doesn't know someone out here, it's news to them that there's been such a catastrophe in Karekare."Food and fuel were being delivered at a make-shift community hub, run out of Sarah Cannon's home.Up to 80 locals stopped by each day to collect long-life food and bottled water, Cannon said.People were grateful for all of the donated food, but were holding out for some fresh produce, expected in the next delivery, she said.Sarah Cannon's property is being used as a make-shift community hub for Karekare locals to grab food and fuel supplies after Cyclone Gabrielle left the community isolated. Photo: RNZ / Leonard PowellHyman said locals, with help from emergency management, had been able to do some work on the road."Our locals got into their own diggers and and carved out the road wider so that cars could pass, but as you can see, it's pretty hairy. About three-quarters of the road has slipped down a bank ... It's not my favourite part of the road to drive over."Down at sea level in an area known as 'The Valley', Hyman navigated past some houses that had slipped away from the hill."[The Valley] took the worst hit, really. This is where the majority of the red stickers and yellow stickers happened. You can see the houses that came down the bank there."Karekare locals with the aid of officials started clearing blocked roads after Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: RNZ / Leonard PowellAnother house had completely slipped across the road and had been bulldozed into a pile in order to open the road - the rubble full of personal possessions.Up on the hill and above the mess on the road were parked cars, never to be driven again.Rescuers evacuating family got trapped by landslidesHyman described the harrowing scenes from about 9.30pm on the Monday when the cyclone hit, when a family escaped just minutes before their house slipped 20 metres."We loaded them into personal vehicles to try and evacuate them up the hill, and as we were going up the hill, a landslide appeared in front of the utes," Hyman said."It was how I imagine the old kauri diggers, when they'd blocked up their dams and then let them go. A sea of huge logs and rocks and boulders, and just the roar of the water coming down in front of us and a brand new waterfall that never existed before," he said.Houses came toppling down in Karekare after 16 slips in the area due to Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: RNZ / Leonard Powell"So we're attempting to turn the vehicles around and it [a landslide] happened behind us as well, so we were trapped on quite a small section of Karekare Road, which is a pretty steep gradient."It was still raining horrendously and we had some little kids and members of the public in the back of cars. We had to make a split second decision really to put the vehicles in four-wheel-drive and drive through the moving slip to get them out."Despite the devastation, Hyman realised how lucky his community had been."I certainly don't want 'woe is me, our communities so damaged, poor us'."There's so many worse off communities right now. In a way, we're really lucky that nobody's died out here. Some people have lost their houses and that's horrific and horrible, but you know we can fix it, we can rebuild it. You can't get people back that you've lost."Obviously some communities like Napier and what not have been hit so much harder than us, but it's still important to talk about our stories out here and and what's going on."Only emergency services and Karekare's 300 residents have been allowed to access the roads in the area due to the damage from Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: RNZ / Leonard Powell

A message from Waka Kotahi:Our teams are working as fast and safely as they can to get State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyns reopened. We know that this route is a crucial connection to and from Northland for both freight and people, so getting it reopened is a priority. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this.You can see the scale of the damage our crews are facing, and why work is so challenging. There are multiple slips to clear, including two large overslips (above the road) and another two underslips (beneath it). We're still experiencing ongoing hill movement, and there's a lot of material to clear, including a lot of loose material above the largest slip where we need to work from the top down.Our roads remain vulnerable due to the amount of rainfall we’ve had, and there's still a risk of slips or trees falling on the road throughout Northland.For the video footage https://fb.watch/iSfu_4jdbB/

CLOSED ROADSWaipu Gorge RdSH1 Brynderwyns - see SH1 Whangarei to Brynderwyn for detoursOPEN ROADSWarkworth to Matakana (Matakana Road)Pakiri Hill RoadMatakana Valley RoadSH16SH1 Auckland Harbour BridgeSH1 Auckland to PuhoiSH1 Warkworth to Wellsford inc Dome ValleySH1 Wellsford to Kaiwaka** For further info about roadworks etc please head to Roads / Traffic page, where individual roads are listed.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency - Northland and partners Northland Transportation Alliance, along with Northland Police and Northland CDEM Group, have met today with transport industry representatives and have released the below guidance for alternate routes until access can be restored on SH1 through the Brynderwyns.Northland CDEM Group Controller Graeme MacDonald yesterday used the powers available under the current state of emergency to direct that all truck and trailer units are restricted from using Cove Road between Mangawhai and Waipu, and this remains in effect.“All parties recognise that traffic volumes on the alternate routes – which were also damaged in Cyclone Gabrielle - are a concern. This also needs to be balanced with the necessity to get freight through to Northland while minimising the additional costs and time that are unfortunately inevitable until our roading network is fully operational again. What has been worked out is a compromise solution and we’re asking all parties to show co-operation and understanding and do their utmost to protect our vital but currently-vulnerable routes."He said the arrangements would remain under review and further measures were under consideration. While SH1 Brynderwyns remains closed to all traffic, the approved detour route for ALL Heavy Vehicle traffic between Auckland and Northland remains SH12/14 via Dargaville.Cove Road Waipu/KaiwakaThe restriction to prevent use by truck and trailer units remains, as directed by the Northland CDEM Group Controller, and will be supported by Police patrolsThis is also the designated route for light vehiclesHeavy vehicle traffic should be limited to vehicles only servicing the local areas. Paparoa/Oakleigh RoadThere are multiple slips on this road which are a risk to High Productivity Vehicles (50 tonnes and over).This route should only be used for Heavy Vehicles (below 50 tonnes) with destinations south of Whangarei.Waipu Gorge RoadThis is currently closed due to multiple slips, with clearance work to take up to another week, and Google Maps has been contacted to record it as closed.Once open, it will remain unsuitable to Heavy vehicles and detour traffic for some time.All link roads between SH1 and Paparoa-Oakleigh remain vulnerable and unsuitable for heavy vehicles.

Following a truck blocking the road between Mangawhai and Waipu yesterday, Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Controller Graeme MacDonald has used the powers available under the current state of emergency to direct that all truck and trailer units are restricted from using the Waipu Cove Road between Mangawhai and Waipu. This gives Northland Police additional powers to enforce the use of this route.The Northern Transportation Alliance and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency - Northland are working together to implement traffic management.Freight companies are being contacted directly.Currently Brynderwyns are closed due to severe slips. Light vehicles can use the Waipu/Langs beach route to bypass Brynderwyns to get further north. Trucks and trailers need to use the alternative route through Dargaville as the Waipu route is too narrow and winding for larger vehicles. Heavy vehicles must use SH12 and SH14 via Dargaville with caution.Please note Waipu Gorge road is closed.

A $50 million support packge for cyclone-hit businesses and farmers is being praised by Gisborne business leaders, while National says there's a lack of detail regarding financial support.Gisborne-Tai Rāwhiti Chamber of Commerce president Belinda Mackay said the fund was exactly what businesses had asked for to help them rebuild.National Party leader Christopher Luxon said the government needed to urgently provide more detail about who will be eligible for financial support and under what conditions.The death toll from the cyclone remains at 11 and police are still investigating reports of 2246 uncontactable people. More than 4200 people reported as unaccounted for have been found to be safe.Water restrictions remain in Gisborne and Wairoa residents are still being told to boil their water.Fibre connections have been restored and cellphone tower coverage is at about 95 percent across the flood damaged regions, though some are still on generators and can only carry phone calls and texts.The national state of emergency was extended on Monday for a further seven days.The government also earmarked $250m for the National Land Transport fund's emergency budget to rebuild roads.

Almost 30,000 homes have no power and major supply chains have been disrupted - and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is also warning that more fatalities remain possible.Prime Minister has fronted an update on the government's response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Wellington late this afternoon.Hipkins said it was now seven days after the cyclone passed through and the true extent of the devastation and loss was becoming clearer with every passing day."Lives have been turned upside down, many people have seen their homes and all their possessions completely destroyed. Countless others have been displaced, tragically so far 11 people have lost their lives, and more fatalities remain possible."He said 28,000 homes remained without power."Telecommunications have been severely disrupted, fresh water is in short supply in some areas and roads have been badly damaged, limiting access to some areas and causing significant delays in others."He said supply chains had been disrupted and moving goods around had been "incredibly challenging"."Crops have been badly damaged, many completely destroyed."Earlier today, police confirmed two further deaths relating to the cyclone, bringing the total to 11.Hipkins today paid tribute to emergency services and first responders, who had done New Zealand proud."Many have worked themselves to utter exhaustion. The stress and strain of the last week is clearly starting to show, and particularly in places where power and communications remains disrupted, we know that tensions can be high."He said nobody should underestimate the psychological toll this disaster was taking on some of our fellow Kiwis."The past week has pushed many to their limit, even more so given it comes on top of other weather events, the disruption of a global pandemic and too many other significant and disruptive challenges to mention - our resilience is being tested like never before."But as we've repeatedly seen in recent times, adversity brings out the best in Kiwis. We rally together and we support each other. We look out for our neighbours, we go the extra mile to protect the vulnerable, we share and we care. "The Australian emergency responders announced on Friday they're supporting Fire & Emergency NZ with a 27-person impact assessment team and Hipkins said 25 of them were already on the ground in the Hawke's Bay, with two supporting the national co-ordination centre.He said Aotearoa had also accepted an offer of support from Fiji - 10 personnel from their defence force, four fire authority crew and four national disaster management officials are preparing to leave for New Zealand in the coming days.He added that the United States and Australia - through the New Zealand Defence Force - had provided crucial satellite imagery products of the affected areas."And we're in the final stages of working to accept an offer from the Australian Defence Force who will support the New Zealand Defence Force with a C-130 transport aircraft, air load teams to rig freight on the aircraft and environmental health staff to assist in analysing health risks."All of this will be a great help and we thank Fiji and the United States as we thank Australia."Hipkins said making a monetary donation was the single most helpful thing people can do in the wake of the cyclone to support those disrupted communities, because "that enables the support organisations to [require] what is needed in those communities".He said there was no doubt that New Zealand had a steep mountain ahead of it."Our attention over the past week has been focused on the initial emergency response, rescuing those stranded, restoring lifelines and removing hazards. In some areas that still remains very much the focus, in other areas though, recovery is starting to get underway."As the shape of the damage and the need becomes clearer we'll be able to shape our response accordingly."We know that the will come with a big price tag and we will have to once again reprioritise and refocus our efforts and our resources. We will build back better, but we will also need to build back more resilient than before."He said the country had underinvested in infrastructure for far too long and that had to change."If we're going to build back better and if we're going to build back quickly, some tough calls will need to be made, and I'm absolutely committed to doing that."

Warkworth regionMonday 20th February - Fine. Light winds and afternoon sea breezes.Tuesday 21st February - Mainly fine, apart from isolated showers. Light winds.Wednesday 22nd February - Partly cloudy, with isolated showers clearing in the evening. Westerlies developing in the morning.Thursday 23rd - Isolated showers, turning to occasional rain. Southwesterlies, turning southeasterly.Whangarei / Mangawhai regionMonday 20th February - Fine. Light winds and afternoon southeasterlies.Tuesday 21st February - Mainly fine, apart from a possible shower or two in the afternoon. Light winds.Wednesday 22nd February - A few showers. Southwesterlies.Thursday 23rd - A few showers. Southwesterlies.

Help is on the way for thousands of displaced homeowners struggling with insurance claims after the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.The government is introducing the New Zealand Claims Resolution Service to help avoid disputes, resolve issues, and settle claims for homeowners after a natural disaster.The service is modelled on the Greater Christchurch Claims Resolution Service (GCCRS) and Residential Advisory Service (RAS), which were used during the Canterbury earthquakes and proved to be successful with insurance companies.Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Duncan Webb said the majority of 10,000 users found it highly effective for resolving claims with their insurer."Loss of trust, lack of technical expertise or just people being overwhelmed and anxious and over it. What this did is it gave people assistance, it came alongside, helped them. So 90 percent of the people who have used this said they'd recommend it to someone else to go there if they had an insurance problem after a natural disaster," Webb said.Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Duncan Webb Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstonePeople should work things through with insurers first but the support was there if people got stuck, he said."If you are feeling overwhelmed, if you are feeling that you don't have the technical advice that you need or if you're just not sure that you're insurer's doing the right thing by you, this is absolutely the right place to come," Webb said."So use those 0800 numbers or drop into one of the community hubs , just get hold of the service and they're there to help."Homeowners who have concerns about their claim or are unsure about the process can contact NZCRS on 0508 624 327, email [email protected] or visit (tthe website)."The service will be up and running by Monday, with case managers on the ground at community hubs in Auckland.It will also be available locally for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle as soon as possible, but they will still be able to use the phone service.

Areas of rural Northland are still struggling with flooding, power outages and slips - days after Cyclone Gabrielle hit the area.The storm tore through Hokianga on Sunday and Monday before causing catastrophic damage in Auckland, Coromandel, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay.The severe weather warning is no longer in effect and Northland is in cleanup and recovery mode.Geoff Crawford of Crawford Farms near Whangārei, says the cyclone wreaked havoc in the Hukurangi Swamp."We farm about 500 hectares of land on the Hikurangi Swamps, 450 hectares of it is under water at the moment."The Hikurangi Swamps is around 5200 hectares, probably 4500 hectares is under water" said Crawford.Up to 90 percent of kūmara crops have been destroyed, he said."It's quite significant, it's going to be a major blow to the New Zealand economy."There's not going to be any kūmara from us this year."A Northland farmer, facing a fifth day without power or water, said there had been absolutely no contact from civil defence or any other authorities since the cyclone struck.Kaipara District, Northland on Tuesday. Photo: RNZ / Soumya BhamidipatiMichelle Hill lives in Pikiwahine, south west of Whangārei, and told RNZ there were major slips and had been no power, very sporadic internet access and no running water since midday Monday.Local farmers have cleared the road, but Hill said there had been no outside contact."Not at all...there was a helicopter that flew around a lot yesterday afternoon, a really big one - we can only assume it was Northpower or the army but the only real contact has been through the radio," she said.Farmers were generally a "fairly hardy bunch" and had dealt with long power cuts before, she said, but what had been so striking this time was having no access to phones or the internet."When that fails, we could have gone back to smoke signals and pigeons and be better off, we really have no contact with the outside world and we've no idea when the power's coming on still - I've just been cleaning out my freezer because it's rotten."We've heard all these messages on the radio about websites to go to...but we've got no ability to get online, really kept in the dark - literally.Hill said she recognised there were people elsewhere in great need but offered this advice: "If there are people out there who are linked to farmers, I'd say check on them, if they're family or friends, if you can, offer your support."Northland Federated Farmers chief executive John Blackwell said he had been disconnected from civilisation."I think a lot of people are still stunned, it's hard to believe that we've had so many weather events in New Zealand this year - and we're only in the second month," Blackwell said.Much of the kūmara supply comes from the Kaipara district, but this year there would be a shortage.Towns in and near the Bay of Islands area in Northland, including Moerewa, Kawakawa, and Paihia, have seen damage, debris, flooding, and tree falls from Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: Supplied / Joe RapanaKaipara mayor Craig Jepson said the worst was over for his region but hundreds were still in need of support.Hundreds of households in Dargaville and the surrounding area were still without power.Jepson's focus was on meeting the needs of people who are still struggling."I am really proud of the way the community and partner agencies have pulled together. It has been so good to be able to closely coordinate our efforts with FENZ, police and defence force services."Northpower has done a great job of restoring power to almost 30,000 customers so far, he said.Schools were also struggling with attendance rates because of damage to the roads and infrastructure.Kaikohe East School Principal Chicky Rudkin said many students and teachers could not attend."Lots of our children have not come back to school just because they live in areas where there's lots of flooding so either their whānau don't have power or the busses couldn't get through."We had probably around 40 percent of our school role here yesterday and we've got staff that had no power for four or five days."While the big clean up was underway, there was some light at the end of the tunnel for biggest outdoor event north of Auckland, the Northland Field Days was still scheduled to take place in Dargaville next month.

Kaipara District councillor Ash Nayyar says he has been inspired by the human spirit after being rescued from raging floodwaters in the early-morning darkness.Awakino Point-based Nayyar and his wife Mamti clung to the outside of a fire engine as they were rescued in the dark from their Awakino Point home about 4.30am on Tuesday, amid driving rain and rapidly rising Awakino River floodwaters.He was up early meditating ahead of a planned 5.30am meeting with Northland Regional Council Kaipara councillor John Blackwell, and returning to their mission of the previous day checking on the Dargaville community as Cyclone Gabrielle hit Northland."My wife looked out into the darkness from the house and said "you won't be going anywhere".Angry swirling floodwaters were rapidly rising and coming through their deck, about half a metre off the ground. Nayaar rang 111."It just happened, overnight. It was life and death," Nayyar said on Thursday.The fire engine, loaded with half a dozen people clinging to its chassis, drove into the darkness from their home on the eastern outskirts of Dargaville along State Highway 14 towards town, to a nearby safe point at the distinctive giant grain silos alongside the highway."The water levels were rising quickly, my wife was praying as we clung to the side of the fire engine."Among the evacuees clinging to side was a guest staying with the Nayyars from the willing workers on organic farms (Woofer) network.Nayyar said there was lots going on around them in the darkness at the grain silos as about 10 soaked evacuees gathered. Business owners were at their premises all around in the light industrial area trying to secure their properties. There were flashing lights in the raging wind and rain."I was shivering. I remember a kind man, a volunteer there to help us giving me his jacket," Nayyar said.The first-term KDC councillor then got the opportunity to see first-hand his council's Dargaville civil defence evacuation centre where he would end up staying for the night.He called councillor Blackwell, with whom he had the previous day organised to meet, asking for a lift to the Holy Trinity Anglican church.Nayyar went to the evacuation centre, checked on his wife who had already been taken there, then headed straight out into the streets of Dargaville with Blackwell to help the fearful community."I just love Dargaville," Nayyar said.He spent the whole day checking on the community and helping out.Nayyar spent just a single night at the evacuation centre before heading out to help the community again on Wednesday. He and his wife were able to return to their home to sleep last night and have begun the long process of cleaning up.He was overwhelmed with the kindness shown to him during the family's early morning rescue and beyond."I got to see the good in people in a time of distress. That's the message I have taken from this," Nayyar said.On Wednesday he was able to pick up his goat Betty, the single goat saved from his two swept away in the floodwaters. Betty had been taken to the nearby Northland agricultural Fieldays site by a member of the Brethren community and into a barn for safety.The Nayyars' plastic greenhouses where Mamti was growing Asiatic vegetables were destroyed.

Matakana Dental wish to advise their customers that they are open. They have no internet or phone contract currently. So they apologise if you are struggling to contact them.Please call the Snells Beach practice on 09 422 9993 https://www.matakanadental.co.nz/

Dome Valley has been closed for days due to Cyclone Gabrielle with many slips. However they have now been cleared and it is open to traffic.Expect traffic management in some locations and take extra care.Brynderwyns are still closed, use Waipu detour.

Some photos of Cyclone Gabrielle hitting Matheson Bay and Leigh wharf hard on Monday 13th February. Thank you to Jenny Nicholls and Grant Sneddon for the photos. Locals have been spotted clearing the area with diggers etc.