AreaRead the video transcript expand here
This is what parts of New Zealand's North Island look like after Cyclone Gabrielle swept across them.
The storm caused landslides and floods overnight, and public life came to a standstill in many places.
Chris Hipkins, Prime Minister of New Zealand
'It was a very difficult night for New Zealanders across the country, but especially in the upper North Island. New Zealanders woke up this morning to the situation that s families had to leave their homes, «
In order to be able to better support those affected, the New Zealand government declared a national emergency on Tuesday - only for the third time in the country's history.
The army has gone to the affected areas to help.
More than three quarters of New Zealand's 5 million people live in the North Island, where the force of the storm was felt most severely.
In the morning, however, many residents are actively involved with shovels and buckets.
Original sound resident of Coromandel
“There's nothing to compare it to, it's just over the top. Really, the thunder and lightning and everything else last night was just awful. But the devastation is heartbreaking, very upsetting, to be honest.”
However, the worst seems to be over for now.
However, severe weather warnings remain in place for much of the east coast of the North Island and upper South Island.