Auckland weather: Up to four dead in raging floodwaters; homes evacuated; airport, parts of SH1 closed

Two people have died and two are missing after raging floodwaters and slips were caused by an unprecedented deluge of rain across Auckland.

One man had been found deceased in a flooded culvert in Wairau Valley at about 7.30pm last night.

At 12.30am, Police were called to a flooded carpark on Link Drive, also in Wairau Valley, and found one man dead.

A man was also swept away by floodwaters in Onewhero at about 10.15pm and has not been found.

Police and other emergency services also responded to a call to a landslide that brought down a house on Shore Road, Remuera. One person is missing.

A state of emergency has been declared across the region, with Auckland Airport closed and State Highway 1 closed or restricted in eight areas.

There is also widespread damage to homes, with many residents evacuated.

Several homes in Hillsborough and Northcote Pt, on Auckland’s North Shore, have been left teetering on the top of cliff faces, following dramatic landslides.

Auckland Airport is closed until midday. Domestic flights will resume but international flights will remain grounded.

A number of international flights were diverted to other countries or returned to their departure point.  

MetService said a record amount of rain had fallen on Auckland in 24 hours - by 1am, the region had recorded 249mm of rain, smashing the previous 24-hour record of 161.8mm, back in February 1985. 

ELTON JOHN'S SATURDAY SHOW CANCELLED

Elton John's second Auckland concert has been cancelled due to the State of Emergency.

Promoters, emergency services and venue staff have deemed the event unsafe due to surrounding flooding and continued disruptions to roads and patron safety across the city.

All ticket holders will be refunded.

Stay safe Auckland.