Emergency declared, student missing in New Zealand floods

By NICK PERRY
Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Authorities in Auckland have declared a state of emergency as flooding again hits New Zealand’s largest city. Further north in the city of Whangārei, a high school student was missing after a school group that was exploring caves got into trouble when floodwaters hit. Fire and emergency crews said they had responded to more than 200 calls, most of them in Auckland. Many were for floodwaters entering buildings, but they had also responded to landslides, falling trees and trapped cars. Severe weather has plagued the North Island this year. In January, four people were killed when floodwaters hit Auckland. In February, 11 people died when Cyclone Gabrielle hit.