KEY POINTS:
About 500 people in the Far North are cut off from the rest of New Zealand after a bridge spanning State Highway 1 was damaged by heavy rains.
The southern approach to Mitimiti Bridge on SH1, just north of Te Kao on the road to Cape Reinga, was swept away after heavy rains turned the waterway into a raging torrent.
The concrete bridge was the only roadway linking the area around Cape Reinga to the rest of New Zealand.
Engineers investigated the site today and are working around the clock to repair the damaged bridge. It is expected to take several days to fix.
However, the situation was not as bad as first thought, Far North District Council spokesman Rick McCall told NZPA.
Contingency plans were in place and emergency medical and food supplies were available if people needed them.
A possible temporary route through a nearby forest is being investigated and a decision will be made tomorrow on whether the road is suitable.
A route along Ninety Mile Beach could be used to get in and out, but was recommended only for residents who had a thorough knowledge of the land, he said.
"It is certainly not a route we would be advising for tourists to take."
The council was still worried about possible flooding in the Victoria Valley, Takahue, Kaitaia and Fairburn areas, for the Mangamuka area, and the Waima and Taheke areas of the Hokianga, he said.
Farmers are looking for lost livestock and gathering up dead carcasses this morning after "the worst flooding for 15 years" affected areas around Waitetuna River, near Raglan.
Large slips early this morning blocked parts of SH23, Old Mountain Rd, and Waitetuna Valley Rd.
Severe flooding on a SH23 bridge at the intersection of Cogswell Rd trapped a motorist about 4.30am.
A four-tonne truck that was travelling along Waitetuna Valley Rd came upon a large slip that blocked access. The driver had to reverse 3km before being able to turn his vehicle around.
Cogswell Rd resident Darren Merito said the flooding and landslides were the worst anyone had seen in the area for about 15 years.
"It's a bit of a mess. There's been landslides, erosion, soft gravel bottoming out on driveways. The water is up on the flats. My neighbour has had a big landslide at the back of his property, the dirt is all over his backyard."
Waters receeded quickly after the downpours, although a large amount of surface water was still lying across many rural properties late this morning.
Environment Waikato recorded nearly 40mm of rain at the Ruakiwi Rd bridge in the Waingaro catchment between midnight and 6am.
Swim for life
A farmer in western Waikato had to swim for his life this morning after his tractor became submerged in heavy flooding.
Raglan organic dairy farmer Mike Moss said a "weather bomb" started just before midnight with no warning.
During an attempt to rescue stock from the worst flooding he had experienced in 30 years on his property, his tractor became submerged, forcing him and another man to swim for their lives, Mr Moss told Radio New Zealand today.
"We managed to get the cab door open and get out of it and even rescue the dog.
"So yeah a little bit of drama this morning, it's not the best day's farming I've ever had.
"Fortunately I had a wet suit and a life jacket and I was able to share the life jacket with the chap that was with me and yeah we're still here."
Mr Moss lost four young stock in the flooding and a maize silage crop.
He had not had a chance to assess the damage yet, but said it would total tens of thousands of dollars.
"It's been a difficult night, come morning, but it could've been a lost worse - we're still here."
Mr Moss said his neighbours had recorded between 110 and 120mm of rain overnight.
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA
