Cyclone Gabriel hits New Zealand

The New Zealand government has declared a national emergency after Cyclone Gabriel reached the North Island, the country's most populous region.

Emergency Management Minister Kieran McNulty said: "This is an unprecedented weather event that is having a significant impact on much of the North Island.

Heavy rain has caused widespread flooding and road closures, including the main highway between Auckland and the capital Wellington. The cyclone has killed at least four people and the death toll could rise significantly as police have received more than a thousand reports of missing people.