Five regions are under local states of emergency as Cyclone Gabrielle lashes the North Island with heavy rain and severe gales tearing down trees and power lines.
Gisborne/Tairāwhiti and Ōpōtiki joined Northland, Auckland and Coromandel in a local state of emergency, and tens of thousands of people were without power on Monday.
Here are pictures of the storm it closes in on the North Island.
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Flooding from Cyclone Gabrielle, between Tokomaru Bay and Ruatoria, on Monday.
Photo: RNZ / Kate Green
Kaka Street in Morningside, Whangārei was flooded. Whangārei residents living in low-lying areas were urged to evacuate before the high tide around 2pm because of a high risk of tidal flooding in the CBD and the town basin.
Photo: RNZ/Soumya Bhamidipati
Downed trees on Riverside Drive in Whangārei.
Photo: RNZ/Soumya Bhamidipati
Cyclone winds have caused major damage to the Northpower network, much of it from trees falling through lines.
Photo: Supplied / Northpower / Facebook
Floodwater covers the road at Simpsons Beach, Whitianga, on Monday.
Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
Shops were closed in Thames as the Coromandel braced for more torrential rain and strong wind.
Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell
Large swells have been hitting coastal regions, including at Brown’s Bay, Auckland.
Photo: RNZ / Gill Bonnett
A tree is uprooted near sports fields in Stanmore Bay, Auckland.
Photo: RNZ / Tom Taylor
The roof is damaged at the Orēwa Sharks sports venue, Victor Eaves, Orēwa.
Photo: Supplied / Maddi Newson