Landslips and Flooding Force Evacuations North of Auckland on Anzac Day Eve

Storms striking the North Island overnight and into Friday morning triggered landslips north of Auckland and in the Coromandel, forced at least 18 households to evacuate, shut major roads, and led to the cancellation of one of Northland\u2019s largest Anzac Day dawn services.

The slip that caused the most disruption struck the Waiwera area, near Weranui Road on the Hibiscus Coast, just after 6.30am on Friday. Police said six properties were directly affected, with the hillside giving way and tearing into the residential area below. RNZ reported that NZTA confirmed the Hibiscus Coast Highway was closed between Hatfields Beach Reserve and the Puhoi interchange, leaving the road accessible only to local residents. As an immediate measure to ease pressure on affected motorists, NZTA waived all tolls on the Northern Gateway motorway for the full duration of the closure.

No injuries were reported in connection with the Waiwera slip, and fire and emergency crews confirmed all 18 evacuated residents were safely accounted for. Some households were able to stay with friends and family in the area, while others found shelter in a local bar that opened its doors in response to the emergency.

Hibiscus and Bays local board member Gary Brown said the community response had been heartening. Brown said residents had been overwhelming in their support and had opened their doors to those forced from their homes. The local bar\u2019s decision to provide a gathering point for displaced residents was widely welcomed, with Brown saying it was typical of the area\u2019s community spirit during difficult times.

Slips were not confined to the Hibiscus Coast. On the Coromandel Peninsula, Port Jackson Road near the top of the peninsula was closed after two separate landslips and a fallen tree blocked the route. The closures followed a pattern familiar to the region, where steep terrain and heavy vegetation make roads vulnerable during prolonged rain events.

MetService had placed orange heavy rain warnings for eastern Northland south of Kawakawa, valid until 9am on Saturday, and for eastern Auckland north of Whangaparaoa, in effect until 3pm on Friday. A broader heavy rain watch covered Northland south of Kaitaia through the same period. Forecasters warned that parts of Northland could receive up to 150 millimetres of rain, with the potential for streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding, further slips, and difficult driving conditions were all flagged as likely outcomes.

The timing of the storm made it especially disruptive. Anzac Day falls on Saturday and tens of thousands of New Zealanders take part in dawn services, which often begin before first light in open public spaces. The weather put a number of outdoor events at risk.

The Whangar\u0113i Returned and Services\u2019 Association announced it was cancelling its 6am dawn service at Laurie Hall Park, citing safety concerns caused by the severe weather. The Whangar\u0113i dawn service is one of the more significant in Northland, with around 5,000 people typically attending the outdoor event each year. The RSA said it expected the 10am service at Maunu Cemetery would go ahead if conditions on the day allowed, but urged people to check for updates before heading out.

For those planning to attend dawn services elsewhere, MetService meteorologist Alanna Burrows said it would be worth being prepared. Burrows said it would be a little cold in the morning and that bringing layers was worthwhile, and that people in Northland should carry a raincoat given the continuing rainfall in the region. For most of the country outside the affected areas, forecasters expected drier and more settled conditions by Anzac Day morning, offering some reassurance to those heading to services further south.

The disruption on Anzac Day eve arrived at a time when much of northern New Zealand is already saturated from earlier autumn rain. The steep gullies and hillsides around Auckland and the Coromandel have seen repeated slipping over recent seasons, and conditions heading into Anzac weekend continued that pattern. Engineers and geotechnical specialists typically survey affected slopes in the hours after a significant slip to assess whether further movement is likely, though no updated assessments had been made public by Friday afternoon.

For the communities most directly affected, the priority on Friday was ensuring everyone had somewhere safe to stay and that roads remained passable for essential traffic. NZTA asked motorists travelling in the Hibiscus Coast and Coromandel areas to allow additional time, follow any signage, and avoid driving through floodwaters.

The Waiwera and Port Jackson road closures were expected to remain in place until teams could confirm the slopes were stable and any debris had been cleared. Exact reopening times were not confirmed as of Friday.

If you were affected by the flooding or road closures, or attended an Anzac Day service that was altered by the weather, we would like to hear your experience. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.