Persistent rainfall across the Far North over the last few days has caused dozens of roads in the region to flood, including a section of State Highway 1 that has caused it to close.
Police are urging motorists to avoid the area and delay their travel if possible, as SH1 between Ohaeawai and Kawakawa has been blocked off to drivers.
"The road has been closed due to rising floodwater at Moerewa. Roadblocks are in place at the northern side of Moerewa at the base of Turntable Hill," a statement sent to media reads.
"Police and other emergency services are at the scene and traffic is currently being diverted through SH10 and SH11. Motorists are asked to take care and drive to the conditions."
Downpours in Northland - which are anticipated to continue over the weekend - caused the closure of a number of roads and Far North District Council venues in the region on Friday.
Four roads - Monument Rd, Tapotupotu Rd, Te Paki Stream Rd and Sawyer Rd - are impassable, with more than 20 others flooded but still open.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) says locals in the Far North should "avoid unnecessary travel" on Friday evening, and are urging those who do need to drive to "watch out for surface flooding, slips and/or fallen trees".
It says SH1 is closed at Moerewa due to flooding at the Otiria Stream Bridge. It also advises those driving on SH15 north of Kaikohe and SH12 near Ohaeawai to drive with care amid surface flooding.
MetService says a massive low pressure system in the Tasman Sea is behind the wild weather - and the forecaster warns it won't budge for a few days yet, with the high to the south and east of New Zealand trapping it in.
"Sandwiched between two broad ridges of high pressure it has nowhere to go, and so begins persistent cloud and rain," it explained in a Facebook post.
"This low isn't going anywhere in a hurry, meaning the next few days of weather will be 'rinse and repeat'. Rain will continue for Northland with thunderstorms still possible tomorrow.
The low is anticipated to weaken from today, meaning the rainy, windy conditions will ease and dissipate completely by next week.
