In worst-hit Auckland, flights resumed at Auckland Airport, which had suspended domestic and international operations on Friday.
Air New Zealand said the airline’s international flights in and out of Auckland would resume from Sunday afternoon (2300 GMT on Saturday).
On Saturday, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, less than a week into office, flew by helicopter over Auckland before visiting flood-hit homes. He described the impact of the floods in the city as “unprecedented” in recent memory.
The New Zealand Herald reported on Saturday that the flooding had prompted more than 2,000 calls for help and 70 evacuations around the country’s largest city, Auckland.
On Friday, social media showed firefighters, police and defense force personnel rescuing people from flooded homes using ropes and rescue boats.
The weather event caused by warm air coming down from the tropics broke the city’s rainfall records, surpassing 1985’s 161.8 mm, with Auckland Airport logging 249 mm (9.8 in) in the 24 hours to 9am on Saturday. passed the high level.