New Zealand's death toll from Cyclone Gabrielle is at least two but poised to rise, with rescue efforts unable to assist a woman trapped in a collapsed home under a landslip.
On Wednesday morning, Hawke's Bay civil defence authorities confirmed the death of a woman in Putorino, a small town 50 kilometres north of Napier.
Fire and Emergency NZ were first alerted to the landslip early on Tuesday morning, but were unable to attend due to flooding.
FENZ chief executive Kerry Gregory suggested further deaths from the mammoth storm would be likely across the country.
"Overnight there's been reports of further fatalities across the country," he said from a briefing in Auckland on Wednesday morning.
"Our hearts go out to the families of those who have potentially lost their lives last night. It's a really difficult time for New Zealand."
A second death was confirmed in Muriwai, on Auckland's west coast, where FENZ was searching for a volunteer firefighter trapped in a collapsed house since Monday night.
Formal identification of the body is yet to take place.
Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty said he didn't have an expectation the death toll would rise but "it wouldn't surprise".
"Obviously we hope that that doesn't happen. But this is a serious event that already led to two deaths ... there are still rescues to happen," he said.
On Tuesday, police confirmed a body had been found on the beach on Bay View, just north of Napier, a region with heavy floods.
However, a police spokeswoman told AAP it had not yet been tied to the effects of Gabrielle, with inquiries ongoing.
© AAP 2023