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Cars floating, flights grounded, homes evacuated - State of Emergency declared in Tāmaki Makaurau

A car was carried away by flood waters as occupants clung to the side amid torrential downpours in Tāmaki Makaurau. Video / Facebook

A state of emergency has been declared in Tāmaki Makaurau as torrential downpours lash the region.

”This declaration reflects the extent of damage, displacement and disruption caused by this evening’s severe weather event and enables emergency services and response agencies to draw on resources, and enact additional powers, to assist affected Aucklanders,” Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says.

“The region has experienced widespread damage from flooding and torrential rain, with reports of slips and inundation. Infrastructure and emergency services alike have been overwhelmed by the impacts of the storm. The declaration of a state of local emergency comes into force immediately and expires in seven days,” he said.

Residents in some flood-prone areas are being evacuated as homes are destabilised by landslides, or engulfed by floodwaters.

A body was discovered by a member of the public, in a culvert near Target Rd in the Wairau Valley earlier, with Police called to the scene at 7:2pm.

More than 170 millimetres of rain has fallen across the city today, with 71mm falling between 7pm and 8pm.

The concourse at Auckland Airport has flooded amid the downpour in Tāmaki Makaurau.  Video / Facebook

Every international flight into Auckland Airport has also been cancelled, diverted or rescheduled, with the terminal flooded; fans headed to the Elton John concert at Mount Smart stadium have been told the gig is cancelled.

FENZ say they are responding to over 1500 calls related to the heavy rain, with every fire truck in Auckland dispatched.

A MetService rain warning has been extended to 3 A.M.

Every international flight into Auckland Airport has also been cancelled, diverted or rescheduled, with the terminal flooded. Photo / William Bell-Purchas via Twitter

MP Ricardo Menendez March, one of those evacuated - has posted a video to Twitter showing floodwaters slamming into houses.

"We’ve just had to evacuate our home as the water was rising rapidly... Pls follow civil defence advice" the MP wrote.

Northwestern and southwestern motorways ground to a halt earlier ahead of the city's anniversary, long weekend.

A video posted to social media shows a car being carried away by flood waters as the occupants cling to the side.

Police say people should delay any non-essential travel, and they're urging those who must head out to drive to conditions by increasing following distances and being aware of fellow drivers.

The weather is also wreaking havoc with ferry schedules with all Auckland City, Beach Haven and Hobsonville Point services replaced by alternative transport.

A home in West Auckland was destabilised by landslides following more than 170 millimetres of rain in less than 24 hours. Photo / Facebook

Significant flooding is impacting Rānui, Taupaki, Albany, New Lynn, Henderson, Kumeū among other regions in Auckland's west.

Labour Party deputy leader Kelvin Davis posted on Facebook that some homes in Rānui and Swanson in west Auckland are knee-deep in water.

There are slips on both Dome Valley Road and Kaipara Flats Road, forcing road closures and traffic diversions police say.

Pictures on social media show land slides also destabilising homes in West Auckland.

A man and his dog making the most out of floodwaters in a swamped West Auckland sports field. Photo / Facebook

The public is advised not to travel to West Coast Beaches due to the sea conditions.

A landslide has come down on a house in Remuera in central Auckland.

Police, Fire and Emergency, USAR and Civil Defence are being called to the area on Shore Road, which runs along Hobson Bay and the Orakei Basin.

On the north shore, Countdown Mairangi Bay is flooded with a number of cars trapped in the carpark, and the Mairangi Bay village is also flooded with water pouring into shops.

Surf lifesavers are dragging inflatable rescue boats through flooded streets in the area to assist with rescuing stranded people.

A landslide has come down on a house in the central city suburb of Remuera. Photo / Supplied

FENZ says it's giving priority to people in danger and urges people to call 111 only if life or safety is at risk and the volume of calls was causing delays in answering them.

Fire and Emergency advised if water was entering your property, you should lift furniture and possessions without putting yourself at risk.

More to come...

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