Despite yesterday's wind easing off today, MetService says the country is still in for a "busy 36 hours" as new heavy rain watches are issued.
Yesterday, the forecaster warned of strong winds across the North Island, where a yellow strong wind watch has since expired for the Far North.
MetService said the strongest gusts in the past 24 hours all happened between 6pm and 1am, in exposed parts of Northland and Auckland.
In Northland, Opouteke recorded wind gusts of 131km/h, while Cape Karikari reached a blustery 117km/h.
Auckland's strongest recorded gust was at Channel Island, clocking 100km/h.
Today, MetService said a low of tropical origin lay north of New Zealand, while an associated front sinks southwards over the upper North Island today and Friday.
Sub-tropical low brings heavy rain watches - watch on TVNZ+
"A front from over the south Tasman Sea reaches Fiordland late tonight then moves north over the South Island during Friday," it said.
MetService meteorologist Heather Keats said the country would be in for "a busy 36 hours ahead of us with two weather systems playing a role".
"A large pressure system and front to the northwest, and another front with strong north-westerlies over the deep south.
"Now both systems will dish up heavy rain, as one sinks over the upper north and the other tracks up the west coast of the South Island," Keats said.
Heavy rain watches were issued for Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty west of Kawerau, the Tasman District about and west of Motueka, Buller District and the ranges of the Grey District, the ranges of the Westland District, and Fiordland west of the Lakes into Friday.
"One other thing to be mindful of is the risk of thunderstorms. Yes, there could be thunderstorms for the regions sitting under these watches, but
Keats said there would also be "uncomfortable sleeping conditions" to come as a warm and humid air mass would come down from the tropics tonight and tomorrow night, particualrly over the North Island.
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