Auckland, New Zealand's largest city of 1.6 million people, remained under a state of emergency after it experienced its wettest ever day on Friday.

The nation's weather forecaster says while heavy rain has eased, another period of downpours is possible on Sunday.

Hipkins, who has refused to comment on his policies since being elected leader, will hold his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The police and education minister will lead his party's uphill battle to win general elections on Oct 14 as the party lags in opinion polls, criticised by opponents over rising prices, poverty and crime rates.

She says she has 'no more in the tank' to continue leading the country and will not seek re-election.

An airport spokesman said flight QF144 flight from Auckland had issued a mayday alert and 12 fire trucks were on standby as a precaution as it is due to land.

Reports say that water temperatures on the West Coast of the South Island are currently 4 degrees above average.

With the country depending entirely on imports since April, the failure of a recent shipment to pass quality tests resulted in shortages at Auckland Airport, the country's busiest.

The baby's parents had blocked the procedure on the grounds that any blood transfused could have come from a donor jabbed with an mRNA vaccine.

No hearing date has been set at this stage.

The Korean-born New Zealander is charged with murder.

Neither Australia nor New Zealand has reported a case of foot and mouth disease among livestock.