Weather chaos: What you need to know

The upper half of the North Island is starting to be crippled by intense rain from the former cyclone as widespread flooding disrupts travel and forces hundreds from their homes.

Here's everything you need to know:

• Widespread flooding across the northern half of New Zealand with the homes deluged and motorists stranded in vehicles.

• Scores of roads across the North Island closed by flooding and slips with main highways left impassable.

• Sections of a sheer cliff on Auckland's North Shore has plunged into the sea leaving three properties under threat.

• Local authorities across New Zealand on high alert as the storm prepares to lash the country with phenomenal levels of rain.

• State of Emergencies remain in place for Whanganui and Rangitikei Districts ahead of rivers and streams breaching banks.

• Evacuations of residents living near the Whanganui River have started with flooding expected in low lying areas of Anzac Parade and Putiki later today.

• Schools in districts under civil emergency are closed. Other schools in flood-affected regions have not opened today.

• Many local authorities are watching high tides today which threaten to bring more flooding across the North Island.
 
• MetService warns there is more heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds to come today.

• Much of the North Island and the top of the South Island remain under severe weather warnings with gale force wind warnings now including Banks Peninsula and Kaikoura.