WELLINGTON – The worst of the rain that was forecast for New Zealand’s biggest city moved away from flood-ravaged Auckland on Wednesday after inflicting what Finance Minister Grant Robertson described as probably the “biggest non-earthquake event” in the country’s history.
Four people were killed in flash floods and landslides that hit Auckland last Friday as rainfall, which the authorities say has been exacerbated at least in part by climate change, drenched the city.
“Our job is to look after people, help people recover,” Mr Robertson told the media.
He said the flooding was probably the most significant disaster, apart from earthquakes, that New Zealand has ever had to deal with in terms of insurance.
A state of emergency remains in place in Auckland but has been lifted in the Northland region to the north of the city.
Rain over the 24 hours until early Wednesday caused more surface flooding in the city of 1.6 million people and forced the closure of several roads and rail lines.
Sodden ground was causing risks, particularly from landslides.
A house collapsed on a cliff in a beach settlement near Auckland on Wednesday, injuring three people.
The national meteorological service said the heaviest rain had passed Auckland, although downpours were hitting to the south-east, in the regions of Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty.
Auckland Emergency Management deputy controller Rachel Kelleher said the likelihood of more flooding was lower now, but the waterlogged ground meant danger from landslides and falling trees.
“This has been an unprecedented event,” she said.
People in the city are being asked to stay out of the sea and flood waters because of fears of contamination.
However, all Auckland schools, which had been told to close until Feb 7, can open if they have not been affected by flooding.
Evacuation centres remain open across the city.
Summer in New Zealand usually brings some rain. But the region is experiencing the La Nina weather system, which can bring much heavier rain to the upper North Island. REUTERS
