STORM LATEST
* State of Emergency in force across West Coast and Tasman regions;
* Far North cut off after SH1 blocked by slip at Mangamuku Gorge and flooding at Kaeo;
* Schools are closed and vehicles are hemmed in between slips on SH1;
* Northern regions lie under orange heavy rain and strong wind warnings;
* Gales expected to reach 120km/h at top of country;
* Northland to get another 140mm of rain until 9am Friday;
* Aucklanders warned to watch for flooding and hazardous driving conditions;
* Hundreds remain evacuated in Nelson and Buller after flooding
Storm-force gales and heavy rain is causing havoc across the top of the country with slips, fallen trees and flooding blocking major roads, and a dramatic rescue of an elderly person using a surf club inflatable craft.
Schools across the top of the island have closed for the day and the Far North is all but cut off after slips in the Mangamuka Gorge blocked SH1 and flooding made the alternative SH10 impassable at Kaeo.
Several vehicles, including a truck that cannot turn around, are stuck between two slips on the hill route.
Emergency services are also involved in a rescue of an elderly person from a flooded home in Kaitaia and have called in the Far North Surf Rescue team's IRB to help.
