Auckland Transport has apologised for any “confusion” in suggesting punters drive to Elton John’s concert at Mt Smart stadium on Friday night, due to the lack of public transport services running.
On Friday afternoon, the organisation issued a statement to correct their previous advice, saying they had a “transport plan” in place.
“A message was published last night on our Facebook page that suggested people should drive to the Elton John concert, in light of partial closure of the rail network by KiwiRail,” Auckland Transport interim chief executive Mark Lambert said.
“We want to reassure Aucklanders there is a full transport plan in place, which provides for a range of options,” he said.
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“We apologise for the confusion this has caused. We have since updated the post.”
Auckland’s long weekend is off to a very wet start, as rain and severe thunderstorms are drenching the region.
Heavy rain is set to fall across most of the North Island throughout the weekend, squashing most outdoor plans.
The weather has put a dampener on Sir Elton John’s concert, which is taking place at Mt Smart on Friday and Saturday.
Ferry services ground to a halt on Friday morning after a mooring line problem on the cruise ship Noordam, on downtown Auckland’s Princes Wharf.
David White/Stuff
People try to fish in the middle of Auckland’s wild weather.
Ports of Auckland said the problem occurred around 11.15am, prompting the moored cruise ship to use its engines to help keep it place alongside the wharf.
The wash created by the ship’s engines in the confined “ferry basin” meant incoming ferry services could not berth or leave for around an hour.
Meanwhile, water was seen pouring over the road at Brynderwyn Hills, near Waipū in Northland, as the area is deluged in rain.
David White/Stuff
Ferry services into downtown Auckland have been on hold for an hour after a mooring line problem on the cruise ship Noordam.
There is a severe thunderstorm watch in place for Northland in place until 7pm on Friday, as well as a heavy rain warning.
On Friday afternoon, MetService issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Kaipara, Auckland City, Waitākere, Rodney and Albany.
“These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain,” MetService said.
There is also a heavy rain warning for Auckland until 10pm and a strong wind watch until 9pm.
Martin Ward
Water was pouring over the road at Brynderwyn hills after heavy rain on Friday January 27, 2023.
Earlier on Friday, areas of North Auckland around Te Arai were without power.
At about 9.30am, Vector was alerted to a power outage that spread 25km from Kawakawa Bay to all the way to Takanini.
A Vector spokesperson said power had been restored by 1pm, but the cause of the outage was still under investigation.
Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency) cancelled all Pine Harbour ferry services until further notice on Friday, due to severe weather.
A Stuff reporter heading across the bridge on Friday afternoon said the Auckland Harbour Bridge’s speed limit had been reduced to 70kph.
David White/Stuff
A severe thunderstorm warning is in place across parts of Auckland, and a heavy rain warning for Auckland and Northland.
MetService said on Friday afternoon that an Auckland Council weather station just registered 60mm of rain in an hour.
The wettest place in Aotearoa at 3.30pm on Friday was Castlerock in the Coromandel Ranges, recording 151.5mm recorded over 24 hours, MetService said.
David White/Stuff
Aucklanders battle heavy rain and strong winds.
Taranaki residents are being urged to watch out for heavy rain from 2pm onwards.
Even after the heavy rains ease, showers are still on the cards.
Gale force winds are expected for Auckland from early until late on Friday, and northeast winds could get to even severe gale force in exposed places.
