Whangārei coastal communities already suffering from earlier storms have again been cut off after Cyclone Vaianu tore through Northland overnight.

The Ōakura coast is effectively cut off because of flooding. Access to the area has been hampered since a large slip closed Russell Rd after a storm in January.

Residents are this morning reporting flooding on the alternative route, Kaiikanui Rd, as well as Pigs Head Rd.

The area is also blocked off to the north by flooding on Russell Rd at flood-prone Punaruku.

Whangārei District Council chief executive Simon Weston said they were still gathering information as to how the district had fared overnight.

Council crews were responding to reports of blockages and other issues on its roading network.

A map of impacted roads in Whangārei, as of 9am. Photo / WDC

The council has published an interactive map that shows known roading issues and is updated every 15 minutes.

Weston advised people to stay where they were and keep out of floodwaters.

“When it does stop raining, be mindful that slips can still occur for quite a while after the rain, so people need to be very aware of that.”

Flooding in Otaika Valley. Photo / Maraina Latimer

Whangārei Falls were roaring on Sunday morning. Photo / Brodie Stone

Rainfall has turned Whangārei Falls into a raging torrent. Photo / Brodie Stone

Weston also warned about the “very strong winds” expected later today.

Gale south-westerlies are still forecast to affect parts of Northland as the cyclone’s centre moves southeast away from the region. At 6am, the centre was about 160km northeast of Great Barrier Island.

Northland about and south of Bay of Islands to Hokianga Harbour remains under an orange heavy rain warning until 9am today, and an orange strong wind warning until 3pm today.

MetService meteorologist Braydon White said the strongest winds were at Cape Rēinga, 110km/h, while Kaitāia has had wind gusts of up to 65km/h.

Kerikeri had a wind gust of 75km/h at around 10pm, while most of the night winds were around 35km/h.

The wave buoy off the Bay of Islands coast recorded a maximum height of 10.8m yesterday afternoon.

Rough swells at Ocean Beach on Sunday morning. Photo / Rachel Ward

The highest rainfall in Northland was in Whangārei, which copped 90mm rain in the last 12 hours.

Maungatūroto had 80mm of rain, Whananaki had 53mm, and Dargaville and Kerikeri both had 42mm.

The Pipiwai | Kaikou Civil Defence team has reported “rivers are running very high this morning with kohu [mist] taupoki [sitting over] across the valley”.

Some roads have started to flood, such as Jonsey Corner which is nearly under water and Moore’s Rd which is already under with surface flooding in multiple areas.

“Our team has been out checking on whānau. We’re advising everyone to stay safe and stay home where possible.”

Flooding on Pipiwai Rd on Sunday morning amid Cyclone Vaianu. Photo / Pipiwai | Kaikou Civil Defence Team

Flooding on Pipiwai Rd this morning. Photo / Pipiwai | Kaikou Civil Defence Team

Flooding in Pipiwai. Photo / Pipiwai | Kaikou Civil Defence Team

‘We’re alright’: Far North appears to escape major damage

Far North Mayor Moko Tepania said it had been “pretty quiet” in his district so far, apart from power outages in the southeastern Bay of Islands and the Hokianga.

According to the Top Energy power outages centre, 786 homes have been without power in Ōpononi, Whirinaki, Oue, and Ōmapere since 11pm on Saturday.

Power is expected to be restored by midday.

Another 373 homes are without power in Rāwhiti, Waikare, and Parekura Bay. That outage was reported at 10.30pm and is expected to be restored at 1pm.

Northpower reported its network was stable at this stage, with crews on standby.

Tepania said “all in all we’re alright”.

“As people wake up we’ll start getting calls and information, but otherwise it looks like we’ve come off lucky, which I’m grateful for.”

Sharon Kaipo said the Parahaki marae at Nukutawhiti, 20 minutes from Kaikohe, had a quiet night.

“The marae was all ready to go, the lights were on, we had power and water, but we had a quiet night. We’re all good this end.”

SH1 Mangamuka Gorge closed from Sunday at 7pm because of the potential impacts from Tropical Cyclone Vaianu.

A NZTA spokeswoman said inspection crews were on site from first light on Sunday morning to assess conditions before determining whether the gorge can safely reopen.

A detour is available via SH10.

A slip on Rawene’s Parnell St appears to have burst a water main, according to Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board chairwoman, Jessie McVeagh.

The slip occurred in previous flooding but appears to have got worse overnight, and some Hokianga residents have reported a drop in water pressure this morning.

McVeagh put cones on the slip this morning and has ensured Far North District Council knows the situation is urgent.

A slip on Rawene's Parnell St got worse with the heavy rain overnight and now appears to have burst a water main. Photo / Jessie McVeagh

Civil Defence Northland said six homes in Kerikeri were proactively evacuated yesterday evening because of the potential risk of nearby trees falling from wind gusts.

The homes were on Wendywood Lane, close to a stand of large redwood trees.

“The majority of residents, along with their pets, were accommodated with friends and family.”

Residents were advised to stay away until at least this afternoon because of the strong winds still expected.

‘Hasn’t seemed that bad’: Kaipara residents react to cyclone

In Kaipara, Dargaville business The Potting Shed Nursery put a post on a Facebook community page yesterday offering a safe place to stay for motorhomes or campervans.

Although no one took up the offer, owners Wayne and Sharon have travelled in their motorhome for years and knew those people were sometimes forgotten in weather events.

“[It’s] fortunate it hasn’t actually seemed that bad over here to be honest.”

The pair said others had been looking to help as well.

“There was other people asking about the homeless and what could help with the homeless over here.

“We really have an awesome, loving community over here, and not often people really see that side of Dargaville.”

Fire and Emergency New Zealand had by 5am responded to 12 emergency calls across the North Island as a result of the weather, none were life-threatening.

The Mangōnui Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to Beach Rd, Mangōnui, about 9.30pm yesterday after a tree and light pole were brought down by the wind and partially blocked the intersection with the highway.

Further south, the Maungatūroto Volunteer Fire Brigade responded to a tree down and over the road in Brynderwyn shortly before 5am today.

The Mangawhai Volunteer Fire Brigade also attended a fallen tree this morning.

Northland remains under a region-wide state of emergency, declared on Friday to unlock additional powers particularly around evacuations.

More to come.