• Flights in and out of Wellington Airport have been suspended until 6am Thursday at the earliest.
• The Whanganui River is expected to breach its banks, leading to evacuations from low-lying areas this afternoon.
• State of emergency declared in Whanganui and Rangitikei.
• Auckland has had a month of rain in 24 hours.
• About 19,000 properties were without power in Papatoetoe, Manukau and Wiri this afternoon. Power has since been restored to the area.
• About 200 homes around Auckland are still without power.
• The worst of the weather is over in Auckland but thunderstorms could still hit before 10pm, MetService says
• Central North Islanders are being told to keep survival items nearby
• For live updates, stay with us or tune into Newstalk ZB
• Weather chaos: What you need to know
Planes are grounded at Wellington Airport tonight and arriving flights are being diverted as wild weather continues to play havoc. At least two Wellington-bound international flights are being sent to Auckland and Christchurch.
Airways technicians will be working through the night to repair malfunctioning landing systems but all flights are cancelled until at least 6am Thursday.
The airport said its instrumental landing system isn't working which makes it difficult to land in low visibility. Travellers are being urged to check the status of their flights online.
MetService meteorologist Brian Mercer said Northland, Auckland, Waikato, and the Central Plateau were bracing for thunderstorms overnight, but should be down to normal levels of rainfall tomorrow.