A passenger escaped a vehicle swept down a swollen river north of Auckland, with a large-scale search for the driver underway.

Emergency services, including specialist white water raft teams and drones, are searching the Mahurangi River for a man who was in his vehicle when it washed off a swollen ford.

Warkworth chief fire officer Nick McLean said they were called at 7.51am after a vehicle was swept downstream at a river crossing on Falls Rd, near the intersection with Woodcocks Rd.

Police have confirmed the passenger escaped and raised the alarm.

A search and rescue team near the intersection of Falls Rd and Mansel Dr, Warkworth, after a man and his vehicle were washed away on Wednesday morning. Photo / Jason Dorday

A Police Search and Rescue team has deployed to the area.

Police are assisting Fire and Emergency crews, while five white water rafts have been searching from the ford at Mansel Drive to the area around the Mahurangi Hope Church.

Senior Sergeant Dean Roberts told the Herald at the scene multiple resources were being used in the search.

“We’re using a lot of people just on the ground, but we also have the ability from our partner agencies, we’ve utilised drones just to assist with aerial,” Roberts said.

“The weather’s been a bit complicated for us, by using other resources, but we’re continuously reviewing it and trying to get as much as we can here.”

The swollen ford crossing on Falls Rd, Warkworth. A man and his vehicle are missing after being washed away at the crossing on Wednesday morning. Photo / Jason Dorday

About 20 personnel are assisting, including firefighters, police officers, ambulance and white water rafters.

An Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter has landed at Snells Beach near Mahurangi East Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Signs on both sides of Falls Rd say “roads subject to flooding”.

Police are strongly advising the public to avoid the area, and pay close attention to weather warnings.

Emergency services at the Wairere Scenic Reserve in Warkworth during a search for a man and his vehicle washed away at a river crossing on Falls Rd on Wednesday morning. Photo / Jason Dorday

Roberts said while finding the person is vital, the safety of emergency service staff was paramount.

“We need to keep our staff safe, but we also need to appreciate the type of work we’re doing out here and knowing the risk,” Roberts said.

Auckland and Great Barrier Island are currently under an orange-level heavy rain warning.