Civil Defence Northland said emergency services in Kaitaia are helping with the evacuation of a small number of residents.

Far North District councillor Hilda Halkyard-Harawira said about 50 households are being evacuated after the Awanui River breached a stopbank.

Waimamaku Hall has been opened to accommodate about 40 displaced locals, she said.

Kaitaia College said its gym on Redan Rd was ready to receive evacuees.

"Come through if you need a safe, warm place — we are here for you."

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said crews are assisting local Civil Defence and police with "multiple evacuations of Kaitāia residents whose homes are either flooded or threatened by flooding".

MetService says there’s a strong likelihood of several regions being upgraded to red heavy rain warnings as a damaging storm sweeps across the country.

Northland and Whangārei are currently in a state of emergency, which will last for seven days.

Although rainfall is set to ease for both regions, others may soon be in the flood firing line.

So which regions are preparing for the worst?

MetService has issued an updated list of severe weather warnings and watches as a deep sub-tropical low moves across New Zealand over the next few days.

It warns that this continues to be an "impactful multi-hazard event", with heavy rain and strong northeast winds affecting many regions.

The heaviest rain and largest amounts are likely in the upper North Island, especially from Northland to western Bay of Plenty where downpours, flooding, and slips are possible tonight and Friday.

A period of large northeast waves is also expected with strong to gale-force winds. Heavy rain and strong winds will also affect parts of the South Island, especially for Tasman and the West Coast.

For a full list of affected regions, see MetService’s latest severe weather watches and warnings here.

Multiple people were rescued from flooding in separate incidents in Northland today.

Fire and Emergency said it was alerted to people trapped in their cars in a flooded river on Kaitaia-Awaroa Rd, Herekino, just before 7pm tonight.

“Firefighters from Ahipara and Kaitaia responded. All persons were accounted for,” a Fire and Emergency spokesperson said.

In a separate incident earlier in the day, three people were rescued after being trapped in a car at Opuawhanga, Whangārei.

“Fire and Emergency was alerted to the three people trapped in a car in floodwaters just on midday.

“A specialist water response team was able to rescue the occupants of the car with the help of a private contractor.

“During this incident crews also rescued another woman trapped in her car between two bodies of floodwater.

“All persons were accounted for.”

Civil Defence Northland says specialist emergency crews from outside the region have been deployed to help with the response to severe weather.

Seventeen firefighters trained in water rescue and urban search and rescue have been sent to Whangārei and Kawakawa, while NZ Defence Force vehicles have also been assisting.

It warned roads across the region remain affected by flooding, slips, debris and washouts.

Locals are being urged to avoid travel overnight and follow road closures after several rescues from flooded vehicles.

Environment Canterbury has issued a flood advisory for foothill rivers and coastal areas from Timaru to the Waitaki River.

Steady rain began falling across the region this evening and is forecast to continue overnight. 

“Farmers adjacent to flood-affected rivers should monitor their situation,” it advised on social media. 

“Beware of increasing flows if you are working or recreating in affected riverbeds on Friday.”

Northland Police are urging motorists not to drive or walk through floodwaters as heavy rain continues. 

“They could be stronger and deeper than they appear,” police said on social media. 

They said they had responded to several incidents where people needed rescuing after becoming trapped in floodwaters.

Police said conditions were particularly troublesome on State Highway 10 at Kaeo and urged people to avoid unnecessary travel.

Northland farmer Kayla Murray said she had already moved her livestock in preparation for today’s deluge.

“We knew this was coming, so we moved all the horses up days and days ago before it even started raining, because we know it floods here if it gets really bad,” she said.

Floodwaters had taken over a key road leading to her farm, with some vehicles struggling to drive through.

“We've been here a good couple of years and a couple of times [the water's] gone right over, but it hasn't been like this for a while.”

Murray said she would spend the next 24 hours tending to her animals and checking on community members.