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AAP
AAP
National
Ben McKay

Clean-up continues after Auckland's deadly flooding

Volunteers groups are helping in the mammoth clean-up efforts following flooding in Auckland. (PR HANDOUTPHOTO) (AAP)

More than a week after deadly and costly floods, thousands of Aucklanders remain homeless and facing an uncertain future.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 276 homes have been "red-stickered" by assessment teams, rendering them uninhabitable and, in some cases, earmarking them for demolition.

Of almost 5000 assessed properties, a further 1590 homes have been "yellow-stickered", meaning they have also suffered damage and require works.

In many cases of the yellow-stickered houses, access is also limited to at least part, if not all, of the house.

An Auckland Emergency Management spokeswoman said the assessments were now largely done, but the clean-up and repair jobs were continuing in earnest.

"It's a massive job," Rachel Kelleher told Radio NZ.

"This event has reached far and wide across the full extent of Auckland.

"Getting around everywhere is going to take us some time. We do just ask that people are patient."

The flooding occurred after a record downpour on January 27 and 28.

Auckland received its highest 24-hour rainfall across those days of 245mm, more than it would receive in an average summer, and eclipsing its previous one-day record of 161mm.

Four men died in the deluge.

One was found a kilometre from where he went missing, another who was kayaking, one while door-knocking houses to check on neighbours, and another in a slip.

The industry body for insurance brokers, IBANZ, has estimated insurance claims could top $NZ1 billion ($A916 million).

A bill of that size would mean the flooding would be New Zealand's most costly natural disaster since the 2016 Kaikoura Earthquakes, with a bill of $NZ2.3 billion ($A2.1 billion), according to the NZ Herald.

More than a week after the monster wet, many Auckland streets remain off-limits due to slips, and many more are lined with rubbish and waste from the clean-up.

Auckland Transport has removed almost 2000 cars from roads in the past week.

One of the key priorities is now removing that waste, and it's all hands on deck.

The Aotearoa Tongan Response Group was one of many community organisations to roll up their sleeves over the Waitangi Day long weekend.

The group drafted in touring Tongan rugby league players to help residents of the south Auckland suburb of Mangere with the clean-up.

"To see the happiness and relief on peoples faces when we arrived to take away the rubbish was heart-warming," group leader Anahila Kanogata'a-Suisuiiki said.

"To physically move the rubbish is one thing but to also be able to take it away to the tip with our trucks and trailers was a huge relief and help for flood-stricken homes."

While the clean-up continues, meteorologists are eyeing the possibility of another big rain-dump at the end of the week.

A tropical depression over the Coral Sea may form into a cyclone in the coming days, with some models suggesting it is bound for New Zealand's North Island.

"There is still a fair bit of uncertainty ... but it's definitely a forecast we're keeping a close eye on," MetService meteorologist John Law told AAP.

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