Torrential rain flooded the north and west of Auckland. 

Hordes of people had to be evacuated from their homes and those remaining attempted to salvage their belongings from the rising waters.

Traffic on the SH1 came to a complete standstill on Friday as the heavens opened and caused a massive deluge. 

A car attempted to drive through it but got stuck and people were photographed in waste-deep water trying to push it out of the way. 

A bus, in the bus lane alongside the motorway, was forced to stop in the same area when water started gushing in. 

Passengers were compelled to leave their belongings on the bus as they waded through thigh-deep water to get to dry ground. 

In the neighbourhoods, parked cars were submerged and others got stuck in the mud trying to take detours around the flooded areas.  

Several drain covers burst open to release excess water. 

Heaps of debris swept over yards and beaches, and empty rubbish bins were washed down the road and found several meters away.

Swimming bans are on all but one beach in Auckland. 

Hibiscus Coast has been swamped with landslides, slips and fallen trees. 

Many events have been cancelled, putting a real damper on the anniversary weekend. 

Concertgoers are furious about the late cancellation of the Elton John concert and some are in an uproar that the national state of emergency was not alerted to our cellphones. 

Local skate parks have become swimming pools, sports fields are now fishing holes and toys, garden furniture and even chilly bins are in neighbours' backyards. 

A neighbouring supermarket is submerged and the Auckland Airport is flooded, forcing all flights to be grounded, cancelled or diverted. 

I’ve been in New Zealand for almost four years and I’ve never experienced this kind of deluge before - here or in my birth country. 

After a terrifying experience getting home yesterday by jumping pavements and narrowly missing other cars, I decided to leave my car at home this morning and took a walk around the neighbourhood with my family. 

We came across people putting their soaked furniture in the sun to dry. 

One man was sweeping water off his deck while a woman stood close to him wringing out towels into their already water-logged garden. 

In another yard, a young man, wearing gumboots and a torn singlet, stared at his newly renovated house. 

He said he got about $200,000 worth of damage when the once-trickling creek at the bottom of his property turned into a raging river and poured through the ground level of his house. 

The kitchen, three bedrooms and living room are completely destroyed. 

Asked if we could help, he said he stayed with friends last night and he’ll be okay. 

We gave him our address, as to the four other people we met earlier, and said to come knocking if they needed anything.

Evacuation centres were set up and people were urged to go there, even if it was for a hot drink, a meal or to charge their phones. 

Libraries are opened today offering the same service. 

Coffee shops are offering hot drinks to emergency services assisting in rescue efforts. 

What hit home for me and got my heart to feel full are the people who are showing love to others during this time. 

Those who have opened their homes to strangers who are forced to evacuate, and to businesses who are offering their services free of charge. 

Social media is inundated with private people saying “I have a spare room. Come. PM for address” and “I’ll look after your littlies while you clean up” to businesses offering free services: “Free fallen tree removal”, “I’ll help you rip your soaked carpet out for free” and “I own a construction company. Volunteering my services today”. 

I salute these people and businesses offering assistance to those in need. You are my kinda people! 

The love rushing through our community is as fierce as yesterday’s raging waters. 

We had a flooded garage and a waterfall gushing down our front steps. 

The only damage we have are a few soggy boxes from our move to NZ, which we moved to a higher and drier section of the garage. 

A total of 2,242 calls were made to the emergency 111 number. 

126 people had to be rescued from trapped cars and houses.  

84 of these were a threat to their lives. 

Three people have been confirmed dead and one more is missing.

Our deepest condolences to the families involved.

Our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected by the historical rain event (just read it’s the wettest 24 hours since 1985 and the record number of 249mm of rain fell).