Category 3 cyclone pummels New Zealand

A category 3 tropical cyclone pummelled New Zealand's North Island on Sunday, triggering flooding and damaging infrastructure but authorities were relieved it bypassed Auckland, the country's most populous city.

The storm was expected to cross the eastern North Island and exit through Hawke's Bay later on Sunday, tracking a similar path to that of Cyclone Gabrielle, which battered the country three years ago.