A state of emergency was declared across New Zealand's Wellington region on Monday to manage severe flooding and infrastructure damage from torrential rains. The declaration, made by Wellington Civil Defence Emergency Management Group joint committee chair Anita Baker, provides responders with enhanced powers to coordinate evacuations and safety measures.

Wellington recorded a staggering 77 millimeters of rain in less than one hour early Monday morning, shattering previous records and overwhelming drains in southern suburbs including Berhampore, Newtown, Island Bay, Brooklyn, Mornington and Vogeltown. Fire and Emergency New Zealand handled more than 150 weather-related callouts for flooding into properties and landslides. Footage showed cars floating in streets, roads turned into rivers and manhole covers dislodged.

Dozens of residents were evacuated from low-lying areas such as Stokes Valley, Porirua and Wainuiomata, with up to 100 homes affected in some reports. The Wellington City Mission opened as a shelter, and authorities urged people in flood-prone zones to self-evacuate for at least 24 hours rather than wait for orders. No fatalities were reported, but police launched a search for a man in his 60s from Karori whose home was hit by floodwaters and debris.

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little described the deluge as unprecedented. "The wild weather continues. We've had flooding, slips and evacuations... The flooding has been strong enough to move cars," he said in a video update. He added he had "never known anything like" the overnight rain.

Landslides damaged homes in Brooklyn and Mornington, with one major slip described as unsurvivable if someone had been caught beneath it. The Basin Reserve cricket ground saw two lanes closed due to flood damage, while the Mount Victoria Tunnel and other roads remained shut. Public transport faced cancellations, schools closed and flights at Wellington Airport were grounded.

MetService issued a red heavy rain warning for Wellington and Wairarapa until Tuesday night, signaling risks of life-threatening flooding, dangerous rivers and further slips. Group controller Carrie McKenzie emphasized life safety: "We are asking people to take this seriously... act early if you are in low-lying or flood-prone areas." Emergency Minister Mark Mitchell advised early evacuations and staying informed.

The ground was already saturated from weekend rains following Cyclone Vaianu the prior week, exacerbating the impacts. Officials warned of slip risks on slopes, urged clearing gutters safely and checking on vulnerable neighbors. Sewage was released from the damaged Moa Point plant, prompting beach closure advisories.

Wellington Regional Emergency Management Office continues to coordinate, with updates via local media and council channels.