Weather watches or warning are in place for most of the upper North Island as more rain is forecast over the week.

Travel is safer now, so fewer of us are dying in large-scale disasters, but climate change could reverse the trend.

Kawerau District Council staff are working as fast as they can to unblock drains after torrential rain caused flooding of over a metre.

Engineers in Northern California are frantically trying to repair "patch and pray" quick-fixes which led to the Oroville Dam's near collapse.

"They told us not to worry. All was good," said Ron Stork.

Preparing New Zealand's water stores for a warmer climate is a major focus of new research projects just awarded more than $2 million.

Motorists face flooding and road closures across the Wellington and Wairarapa regions this morning.

A South Island couple woke at 4am today to find their cat sodden - and their house swimming in 60cm-deep floodwaters.

Climate change scientists have projected continued global greenhouse gas emissions would heat Northland heat up more than other regions

Small Pacific island states could be hit by more tropical cyclones during future El Nino weather patterns due to climate change, Australian scientists say.

Geonet say there is a 98 per cent chance of an aftershock of 6 to 6.9 magnitude in the next year.

More than 100 people were evacuated from an affluent area of north London after a burst water main caused severe flooding.

A BMW owner is fuming after being forced to abandon her and her partner's only car in a Wellington building due to earthquake risks.

The Wellington region could once again face slips, flooding, and further road closures as bad weather approaches.

The PM and Kaikoura's mayor have dismissed Brain Tamaki's comments blaming the devastating earthquakes on "gays, murderers and sinners".

Source: Ben Todd. Ben Todd got up this morning, saw heavy rain had flooded the road - then got his jet boat out for burn.

Source: Twitter: Brad Gallen @bzzrkr

Source: Twitter: Gary Curtis @Flyin_GC Carpark completely under water

A student volunteer army set up overnight is already knocking on the doors of quake and flood stricken houses around Wellington's Victoria University.

Rain continues to fall in Wellington following Monday's earthquakes placing increasing pressure on the region

Source: David Kyle. Heavy flooding is effecting Wellington roads including main highways.

Secretary of State John Kerry won't criticize Donald Trump's climate policies, but says the next US Govt "dare not avoid" the issue.

Anna Roiall says her Huntly property on Riverview Road was flooded because of the local council's lack of regular maintenance. Made with funding by NZ on Air.

Anna Roiall says her Huntly property on Riverview Road was flooded because of the local council's lack of regular maintenance. Made with funding by NZ on Air.

There’s plenty of more fish in the sea, but for 86 year old Huntly resident Eunice, there’s one less fish in her pond following flooding in Huntly over the weekend. Made with funding from NZ on Air

Residents of Forbes have been ordered to evacuate as the Lachlan River approaches record levels.

Watch NZH Focus: Some of the pills taken from Prince's home after his death were 50 times more powerful than heroin. And Speedo and Ralph Lauren are the first companies to drop Ryan Lochte's sponsorships amid Rio Scandal.

Two weeks worth of rain in less than a day has flooded the upper North Island and Great Barrier Island.

Watch NZH Focus: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pledged to do "everything humanly possible" to keep Germany safe following a string of attacks including two carried out by asylum-seekers. At least 77 people have died and several are missing in floods and landslides in Nepal. Donald Trump now he says he was joking when he ¬challenged Russia to hack into her emails

Grim projections show the large cost of an extreme flood event and future sea level increases on buildings and homes.