Auckland Airport was flooded today and flights were cancelled amid heavy rain in New Zealand.

Footage shows passengers wading through knee-deep dirty floodwater sloshing around the check-in desks and abandoned luggage trollies at the departure terminal of the normally-busy airport on Friday January 27.

One flier is heard saying 'this is like a swimming pool' as staff fought to clear the water.

The watery scene came as a plane hit and damaged several runway lights causing major delays and roads across the city were submerged by the deluge.

There were a number of flights delayed and diverted on Friday afternoon and evening.

Officials said the Auckland region in New Zealand is being hit by the floods caused by heavy rain while firefighters claimed that they received more than 1,000 calls.

Deputy mayor Desley Simpson said a statement of emergency will be declared in Auckland tonight.