The North Island is bearing the brunt of stormy weather as heavy rain falls across the island.
MetService duty forecaster Claire Flynn said the wild weather that brought gusts of up to 133kmh to central New Zealand was now easing in the South Island as the rain tracked northwards.
The worst of the weather would not be over until midday, when the first front moved off the east of the island.
Some heavy rain this morning about the North Island, incl. AKL & Welly. Radar--> https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^CL pic.twitter.com/6QOxVp5v8o
— MetService (@MetService) July 13, 2016
The rain and wind would gradually ease, although showers would linger.
A number of severe wind and rain warnings and watches were expected to ease this morning but a second bout of wind and rain would approach the far south later today.
Flynn said gusts of up to to 133kmh had been recorded at Wellington's Mt Kaukau, and 115kmh in Waiouru and Kaeo in Northland.
A huge amount of rain had also been recorded: 213mm fell on Mt Taranaki over the past 16 hours and 154mm in Arthurs Pass.
Despite the intense battering there were few emergency callouts.
In Auckland, some ferries have been cancelled as wild weather hits the city's morning commute.
Surface flooding is affecting many roads and Auckland Transport has cancelled ferry services from Northcote Point Wharf this morning because of bad weather.
Buses took passengers into the city.
Meanwhile, in Wellington police said the worst appeared to be surface flooding around Mana Esplanade and reports of water washing into the Porirua boatsheds.
They were asking motorists to take care on the morning commute, and said roads in Porirua, Paremata and Mana required extra care because of flooding.
Flynn said scattered rain was forecast for the South Island this afternoon ahead of another burst of gale-force winds and heavy rain.
"The main rain band will be east of the North Island by midday leaving a few showers around for both islands.
"Then later on today another front is approaching the south of the South Island."
She said the strong winds and rains would mainly affect the South Island high country.
That front would move up over the North Island tomorrow.
