The severe wet weather that lashed the North Island yesterday forced the closure of 103 schools and 92 early learning centres.

The Ministry of Education says the closures affected 13,725 school students and 3895 pre-schoolers.

All schools in the Whanganui District and Rangitikei District were closed as a result of the state of civil emergency declared by its two district councils.

'While the state of civil emergency remains, the Whanganui District and Rangitikei District Councils have advised us that it is safe to open schools and ECEs in their areas with the exception of those in the evacuation zone,” says the Ministry of Education's deputy secretary of Sector Enablement and Support Katrina Casey.

The schools and ECEs in the evacuation areas are as follows:

• Whanganui Girls' College
• Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Atihauanui-A-Paparangi
• Putiki Kindergarten
• Te Kohanga Reo Putiki Wharanui

'Several schools have reported damage. Our regional teams are continuing to monitor the situation and are keeping in touch with schools and early learning services in affected areas.

'For schools outside the civil emergency districts, the best information will come from schools and early learning services themselves as they make decisions about closures. Parents are advised to check their websites or Facebook pages or contact them directly.”

School and early childhood centre closures:

(please note many of these closures are due to flooding on roads and may be open today, please call your school to check if its open or not)

Bay of Plenty/Waiariki – Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruatoki, Tawera Bilingual School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Matahi, Otakiri School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Paroa, Waimana, Te Wharekura o Huiarau, Taneatua School, Kutarere, Galatea School, Te Kura Toitu o Te Whaiti-Nui-A-Toi, Kaingaroa School, Tarawera High School, St Joesphs (Matata). Closed ECE – Matariki Early Childhood Centre.

Further afield in the North Island

Northland/Te Tai Tokerau – Pakotai School, Mangakahia Area School, Maromaku School. Closed ECE - Ka Tui Early Learning Centre.

Auckland – Tomarata School, Kaipara Flats School, Brookby School, Clevedon School, Kaiaua School, Te Kohanga School, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Puaha o Waikato. Closed ECEs – Clevedon Kidz ECE, Clevedon Kidz Get Set 4 School Centre.

Waikato – Tokirima, Coromandel Area School, Hikuai, Opoutere, Te Wharekura o Manaia, Matatoki, Matiere, Piripiri School and Pukemiro School. Closed ECEs – Kuaotunu Kindergarten, Riverlee Early Learning Centre, Whenuakite Country Kids, Central Kids Kindergartens Tairua, Thames Coast Community Kindergarten.

Hawke's Bay/Tairawhiti – Mohaka School. Closed ECEs – Pirimai Kindergarten, Bette Christie Kindergarten, Wharerangi Kindergarten, Sunny Days, Te Kohanga Reo Waiohiki.

Taranaki/Whanganui/Manawatu (these schools are outside the Whanganui District and Rangitikei District Councils) – Waituna West, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Rangi, Orautoha School, Waitotara and Marco.

Awatapu College has made a decision to close tomorrow (Thursday).

Wairarapa – Dalefield School. Closed ECEs - Holyoake Kindergarten, Ruahine Early Learning.