Four red-level heavy rain warnings have been issued as a tropical low approaches New Zealand from the north today.
MetService said Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, the Bay of Plenty including Rotorua, and Gisborne north of Tolaga Bay were under the highest alert level possible from 9am.
The forecaster said there was a "threat to life" from dangerous river conditions, significant flooding and slips.
"Do not enter floodwaters and avoid travel. Act quickly to self-evacuate if you see rising water. Be ready for power and communications outages."
Orange-level heavy rain warnings were in place for Tasman west of Mapua, Auckland and Great Barrier Island, Gisborne south of Tolaga Bay and Hawke's Bay.
Heavy rain watches had been issued for Waikato, Waitomo and Taupo, Tasman and Nelson Districts east of about Mapua, Buller and Grey Districts, Canterbury, and the Westland District.
Auckland and Great Barrier Island, Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula, Waitomo and Taupo were under a strong wind watch.
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Days of downpours had already flooded areas of the north, washing out roads and cutting power.
Yesterday, Whangārei District Council declared a "precautionary state of emergency" for the next seven days in response to severe weather.
"The communities of Ōakura, Whangaruru South and Whangaruru North and surrounding areas have been significantly impacted already," Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper said.
People in Auckland and Waikato were also warned to expect strong gales through the day, as well as potential heavy rain across the region and in large parts of the South Island.
Meteorologist Katie Lyons told Stuff that Northland was heading into its most hazardous period of weather today, after several days of rain have already left the ground saturated.
"The ground’s already saturated, and there hasn’t been any time for it to dry up, and we’ve got more on the way," she said.
Lyons said a tropical low moving south was now "starting to ramp up", with heavier rain developing first in the far north this morning before spreading across the region.
Road closures, flooding in Coromandel
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said State Highway 25 was closed between Discovery Dr and Simpson's Beach due to flooding, as well as near Wade Rd.
"This means Whitianga can not currently be accessed via SH25 from north or south."
NZTA said crews were on site, however it was likely that flooding would recede until after high tide at approximately 10am.
Pictures sent to 1News showed flooding at the Wharekaho one way bridge in the Coromandel shortly after 7am.
'Be prepared and ready' - Northland Civil Defence
Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management group controller Jenny Calder told RNZ there had not been “any further damage to the region” so far this morning.
"Later today, we're expecting it to come through and we are expecting severe downpours to hit the region later today, and in through into the early hours of tomorrow morning."
She said the east coast areas were of particular concern, as these were smashed by rain on Sunday into this week.
Calder said all emergency service agencies, and power companies, were prepared to respond to incidents, and were already conducting extra checks online in flooding hotspots.
She urged people to "be prepared and ready".
"If that means having a grab bag ready to go and identifying places to go if the rain does come and their properties are starting to flood, to look for where they can evacuate to.
"But we just really like people to be prepared, and to keep safe," she said.
Full watches and warnings list
Heavy Rain Warning – Red
Northland – 14 hours from 9am today to 11pm today.
Coromandel Peninsula – 18 hours from 9am today to 3am Thursday.
Bay of Plenty including Rotorua – 24 hours from 9am today to 9am Thursday.
Gisborne from Tolaga Bay northwards – 26 hours from 9am today to 11am Thursday.
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Tasman west of Mapua – 18 hours from 4pm today to 10am Thursday.
Auckland and Great Barrier Island – 17 hours from 9am today to 2am Thursday.
Gisborne south of Tolaga Bay and Hawke’s Bay – 24 hours from 10am today to 10am Thursday.
Heavy Rain Watch
Waikato, Waitomo and Taupo - 18 hours from 9am today to 3am Thursday.
Tasman and Nelson Districts east of Mapua – 18 hours from 4pm today to 10am Thursday.
Buller and Grey Districts – 18 hours from 3pm today to 9am Thursday.
Canterbury – 19 hours from 6pm today to 1pm Thursday.
Westland District – 18 hours from 3pm today to 9am Thursday.
Strong Wind Watch
Auckland and Great Barrier Island – 14 hours from 9am today to 11pm today.
Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula, Waitomo and Taupo – 18 hours from 9am today to 3am Thursday.
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