Thunderstorms and flash floods forced Auckland residents out of their homes last night.
Thirty minutes of heavy rain flooded 12 homes in Half Moon Bay and carried sewage into other areas.
On Angelo Rd, Howick, a small creek flooded the road, covering it in up to45cm of water at the height of the downpour.
"There was a huge amount of rain. I saw all the cars roaring up and stopping because there was no way through - that little creek had come up quite big," said resident Mick Maher.
The flooding carried sewage into an apartment block in Gillies Rd, Otahuhu, where it poured into garages and laundries.
A Fire Service spokesman said one person was treated by ambulance officers for "severe eye irritation" caused by the overflow. Residents were last night cleaning up with disinfectant.
Firefighters took more than 30 calls about the weather from St Heliers, Howick, Glen Innes and Half Moon Bay alone.
Flooding was also reported on the Ellerslie-Panmure highway.
Police Inspector Barry Smalley said reports came in from 7.30 pm of surface flooding in Merton Rd, Glen Innes, and of hailstones on the North Shore. Nothing was damaged.
Kurt Hebner, who lives in Half Moon Bay, had to sweep water from his garage floor after the rainburst hit, between 8 pm and 8.30 pm. His back garden was a pool of water.
Metservice spokesman Bob McDavitt said the weather was expected to stabilise next month.
