A woman who was swept to her death in a flood-swollen Bay of Islands river was a 28-year-old mother from Wellington.

Rescuers trying to save people at a house party deluged by floodwaters were abused by those they were trying to help.

At least a dozen families were in a welfare centre last night after one of the longest and most damaging storms in years lashed the country.

In the wake of one of the longest and most damaging storms to hit in years, Northland must now turn its attention to repairing key infrastructure.

Kayaker Scott Donaldson's aborted attempt to cross the Tasman Sea shows just how treacherous the ocean can become in fierce storms.

Tonight will be the third cold night without power for thousands of households as more stormy conditions continue to batter the top of the North Island.

Thousands of people are still without power across the north following a severe storm which battered the country over the past two days.

Parliament is expected to pass urgent legislation to enable the recovery of native timber blown over in Cyclone Ita on West Coast public conservation land.

Wild weather is hardly unexpected this time of the year. Aucklanders have every reason to believe any problem arising from strong winds or heavy rain will be handled efficiently.

A 14-year-old was forced to walk home in a storm after his Hop card was blocked - but his father insists it had more than $20 credit on it.

Almost a week after a damaging storm, some Auckland residents were still without hot water last night while the last few houses were having their power restored.

A Titirangi resident says a live power line has been left on his driveway since Wednesday's storm, and Vector is responding sluggishly.

A Glen Eden family are fed up at being without power three days after an Auckland storm, despite numerous calls to their power company.

Much of the North Island is expected to bathe in sunshine over the next couple of days, providing some relief after the storms that caused flooding and damage.

The heavy rain is easing for most of the North Island and will move off tonight.

Holiday makers and children home for the school break might have to dodge showers this week.

People around Christchurch are being advised to watch out for potholes, debris and surface water following yesterday's extreme weather.

The worst of the miserable weather that caused havoc through parts of the country is over but some will be spending the long weekend cleaning up the mess.

Cyclone Ita has hit far north Queensland's coast with wind speeds of more than 200 kilometres an hour.

Severe weather from Tropical Cyclone Lusi could cause more trouble for Christchurch residents struggling with last week's storm clean-up, weather forecasters say.

The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Lusi are on track to hit New Zealand this weekend, forecasters say, with the North Island likely to bear the brunt of the storm.

"It's going to be a waiting game the next few days." Forecasters are watching as a potentially damaging tropical storm forms, which could hit the North Island.

Five jets that were set to land at Heathrow and Gatwick during the Valentine's Day storm were forced to issue distress calls as they were thrown around "like paper planes", it has been reported.

Three people have died in the latest storms across Britain, but as they finally ease the Met Office warns the country will be gripped by ice.

Britain's emergency relief effort for floods has been labelled the biggest since the Blitz in World War II.