New Zealand faces the threat of renewed flooding on the North Island, a day after floods caused widespread power outages, road damage, and evacuations, and claimed the life of a man whose vehicle was submerged on a highway.
The country’s weather service issued a warning that dangerous river conditions, major floods, and landslides could worsen as a deepening low-pressure system sits to the east of the North Island, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to multiple regions.
Forecasters said the peak of the bad weather was expected late Sunday, with conditions slowly easing on Monday after heavy rain began to lash large parts of the country on Friday and triggered the floods.
Authorities declared a state of emergency on Sunday for Waipa and Otorohanga districts—a farming region about 180 km (112 miles) south of Auckland, home to roughly 10,000 people.
Power company Powerco reported about 4,291 properties on the North Island still without electricity.
On Saturday a man died in his car as floodwaters overwhelmed roads, and around 80 residents were evacuated to an emergency centre. Social media footage showed extensive suburban flooding and damaged roads where floodwaters had receded.
Experts note that extreme rainfall is increasing in frequency and intensity in many regions worldwide due to climate change, driven by warmer air that can hold more water vapor. While climate change enhances the likelihood of heavier rains and floods, local outcomes also depend on factors such as flood defenses and land use planning. Regions most affected include parts of Europe, much of Asia, central and eastern North America, and parts of South America, Africa, and Australia.
In January, six people died when heavy rains triggered a landslide at Mount Maunganui on the North Island’s east coast, sending soil and debris onto a popular holiday site where families were gathered for the summer break.
