Six new ministers have been sworn in at Government House this morning.

The weekly number of new community cases of COVID-19 has fallen again, to 10,589, the Ministry of Health has reported.

Damaged or not, all Auckland schools will have a delayed start to the first term of the year.

Aucklanders are waking to the sound of yet more rain over the already sodden city as the state of emergency there enters its fourth day.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Waikato, Hauraki, Matamata-Piako and Waipa in New Zealand.

Tauranga residents told 1News it sounded like a “tornado” others said they heard a loud “bang” when the home collapsed.

At least three people have died and one is missing after New Zealand’s largest city experienced its “wettest day on record” on Friday.

The coastguard building in Titirangi, Auckland was brought down by a landslip around 6.40pm yesterday.

Two people have died and two people are missing in Auckland, police have announced. Both of the people who died were found in floodwaters on the North Shore.

Auckland Airport will remain shut until at least midday Saturday due to flood damage sustained overnight and its effect on terminal infrastructure.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says he’s “pleased an emergency declaration has been made due to flooding in Auckland tonight”.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand’s prime minister in a formal ceremony on Wednesday, following the resignation of outgoing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week.