Multiple people on State Highway 5 in Hawke's Bay who were trapped in vehicles and in houses have been rescued.
Fire and Emergency NZ said earlier today more than 40 households in the rural settlement of Eskdale had been affected.
However, people are still trapped and awaiting rescue in Puketapu. FENZ also said there were many houses in Eskdale and Whirinaki which can't be reached by road at this stage.
Acting district manager Glen Varcoe told 1News FENZ had logged 366 storm-related incidents in the Hawke's Bay in the last 12 hours, including rescues.
Varcoe also said there had been landslide at a home in Putorino about 7.19am and one person was reportedly trapped. "Fire and Emergency has been unable to determine the status of this person.
One vehicle is almost completely submerged. (Source: Supplied)
"Local brigades have been unable to access the property to carry out a rescue."
Varcoe said a local Urban Search and Rescue team had been deployed with equipment by helicopter.
He said FENZ are currently assessing how widespread the damage is.
"It is unclear yet how many houses have been affected. This is an ongoing situation and we are monitoring it closely."
Other rescue efforts are underway in Muriwai, Auckland, after a volunteer firefighter went missing following a landslide.
Fire and Emergency NZ chief executive Kerry Gregory said the search for the firefighter was suspended in the early hours of the morning due to the instability of the land. Another firefighter is in a critical condition in hospital.
A national state of emergency has been declared for New Zealand.
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