WELLINGTON, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Police called off the search late Wednesday for a man swept away in his vehicle by floodwaters near Warkworth, north of Auckland, as severe weather battered northern New Zealand.

The man remained missing, with authorities set to reassess search operations on Thursday, according to a police statement.

Police said resources from several emergency agencies have been deployed around the Mahurangi River in Warkworth, 64 km north of Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, after the car was washed off a ford on the river on Wednesday morning.

A passenger escaped the vehicle and raised the alarm, allowing rescuers to respond quickly.

Nick McLean, Warkworth chief fire officer, noted that heavy, persistent rain had swollen the river dangerously.

Severe weather has triggered precautionary states of emergency across many parts of the North Island. ■