Severe storms lashing New Zealand since February 13 have left one man dead, flooded large areas and cut off several communities across the country, authorities confirmed.
Police said a man died on Friday after his car was trapped in floodwaters near Otorohanga in the North Island.
State of emergency in North Island
The Waikato Regional Council declared that “one in 100 year” rainfall had triggered widespread flooding, prompting a state of emergency in parts of the North Island.
The storm system moved southwards, striking Wellington on Monday before advancing towards Christchurch in the South Island on Tuesday.
According to national forecaster MetService, wind gusts in Wellington reached 193 km/h — the strongest recorded in the capital since 2013.
Power cuts and isolated towns
Energy operator PowerCo reported that around 10,000 households in the lower North Island were without electricity on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Orion said more than 200 homes on Banks Peninsula, outside Christchurch, experienced outages.
Lake Ferry township in Wairarapa was cut off after its only road access was washed away. Residents were reported to have formed a human chain to pass essential supplies across a damaged bridge.
Akaroa, near Christchurch, was also isolated due to flooding and landslides blocking highway access, according to transport authorities.
Emergency services remain on high alert as heavy rain and strong winds continue to impact affected regions, with officials urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and follow safety advisories.