Several planes were unable to land at Auckland Airport this afternoon due to strong cross winds on the runway, an Air New Zealand spokesman said.
"We've got a number of aircrafts which haven't been able to land and they're essentially returning to where they came from or being diverted to another port before they can return to Auckland."
It is likely that more flights will have to divert from their scheduled path, as strong winds continue to lash the runway, the spokesman said.
A Metservice spokesperson said winds were currently up to 45km an hour at Auckland Airport.
Other Air New Zealand flights had been delayed or cancelled due to grounding of its 11 ATR aircraft, which have stopped flying because of safety concerns.
Strong winds and heavy rain today have forced schools and roads throughout Northland to close, trapped a family of three in their house and a woman in her car.
Several rivers had breached their banks, and continue to rise, while at least seven coastal communities have been cut off from the main roads due to flooding.
They were Bland Bay, Punaruku, Whananaki, Tutukaka, Oakura, Whangaruru and Ngunguru, according to the Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group.
Whangarei was the worst hit, and is still being battered by the storm. But the storm is now also enveloping other areas in the North Island, and is due in Taranaki and parts of Taupo this evening, a MetService spokesman said.
Power has been cut to parts of Waiheke Island and Takanini. It was also cut to parts of Northland, forcing a hospital in Rawene to run on a generator.
Firefighters had to use inflatable boats to rescue a family trapped in their house and a woman who was trapped in her car earlier today.
Fire Service northern communications shift manager Scott Osmond said a family of three had been trapped by rising waters in a house on the road between Ngunguru and Whangarei at about 10.30am, and a woman who was trapped in a car at Portland, south of Whangarei, had to be rescued about 11.50am.
Osmond said the Fire Service had attended to about 15 incidents today, most involving fallen trees.
At least 12 roads were closed or had limited access due to fallen trees, while many more were closed due to flooding.
Heavy rain started falling in the Northland region overnight and MetService expected it to continue today. Severe southerly gales, gusting up to 120kmh in exposed places, were also expected.
Graeme MacDonald, spokesman for the Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, said widespread flooding was likely across much of the region.
"We're urging people to take appropriate precautions, especially those living in flood-prone areas. We're also asking people not to travel at all and stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary."
Police received "numerous calls" today about rain-related events. They included reports of slips, fallen trees and widespread flooding. Police advised anyone intending on travelling north of Auckland to delay their trip for at least 24 hours.
The severe weather also delayed mail deliveries in and around Whangarei, and other parts of Northland.
Northland Regional Council (NRC) figures showed that between midnight Saturday and 11am today, 311.5mm of rain fell on the eastern hills above Kaeo, north of Kerikeri. That was more than twice the 130mm to 140mm of rain normal for Northland during the month of March.
In the Glenbervie area, east of Whangarei, 223mm had fallen since Saturday midnight, with 226mm at Puhipuhi near Whangarei, 209mm at Kerikeri and 193mm at Waitangi. The Ngunguru area near Whangarei had 198mm.
Whangarei city recorded 145mm and Dargaville recorded 49.6mm.
Surface flooding had been reported in many areas and many of the region's rivers were seriously affected.
Further flooding is likely as rain is forecast for the rest of the day, and a 2.4m high tide is expected along the east coast about 6pm.
A list of schools closed by the weather, on the NRC website, included Bay of Islands College, Whangaroa College, and Bream Bay College from noon.
The closed roads included State Highway 10 at Kaeo, north of Kerikeri, and State Highway 1 at Te Kao, south of Cape Reinga and at Whakapara.
Police warned people driving in the Kaeo area to take extreme care after the rain left large areas of road under water.
Trees or slips had also come down on some roads in the district.
WDC advised people to avoid travelling in affected areas today, and urged motorists to take great care for the next few days.
Heavy rain was expected in Auckland, Coromandel, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay today, a MetService spokesman said.
Severe southerly gales in Northland were expected to ease by evening but would lash Taupo and Taranaki this evening.
The winds could be so strong they could damage trees and powerlines and make driving hazardous.
Further south, Wellington was expected to see a bitter change later today, with tomorrow's high reaching only 13 degrees.
Meanwhile, vegetation being blown across power lines had cut power to 148 homes on Waiheke while there was also a cut in Takanini, although that was not thought to have affected many residents, a Vector spokeswoman said.
It is not yet known when power will be restored.
- Fairfax NZ News
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