A series of new rain watches are in place for the upper North Island as a front that brought rain and snow to the south slowly moves over the country.
A period of heavy rain is expected for Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty tomorrow.
Heavy rain watches are in place for Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty about, west, and east of the Rangitaiki River.
The Ranges of the Buller district were still under an orange rain warning.
Strong wind watches were issued for Wairarapa south of Masterton, Wellington, the Marlborough Sounds, and the Canterbury High Country.
MetService head of weather news Heather Keats told Breakfast a low-pressure system would move over the North Island tomorrow.
"We're talking heavy rain for the whole upper North Island – Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty to Gisborne as that tracks across.
"So tomorrow is a bit of a write-off. Sunday does look better."
Queenstown mops up
In Queenstown, Mayor John Glover told Breakfast around 45 people were evacuated overnight. It followed 48 hours of "pretty solid rain".
A Civil Defence welfare hub was established to support residents in need.
"They'll hopefully be getting back to their properties later on today," Glover said.
Drivers were asked to avoid One Mile roundabout and Gorge Road if they could.
"Please drive with extreme care today and avoid driving through any flood waters."
A conserve water notice was in place for Fernhill, Sunshine Bay, Queenstown CBD, and Frankton Road.
MetService said the front began moving north overnight, while severe northwest gales were expected to affect some parts of central New Zealand today.
Glover said the rain was now easing and there were blue skies in Queenstown.
"It will take a while to drain away. Be patient. There will be traffic queues as ever," he said.
State Highway 6 between Makarora and Lake Hāwea in Otago is closed morning because of a slip.
Full list of weather warnings and watches:
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Ranges of the Buller district – 5 hours from 9am to 2pm Friday.
Heavy Rain Watch
Northland – 18 hours from 4am to 10pm Saturday.
Auckland, Great Barrier Island and Coromandel Peninsula – 15 hours from 9am to midnight Saturday.
Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty about and west of Rangitaiki River – 12 hours from noon to midnight Saturday.
Bay of Plenty east of Rangitaiki River – 12 hours from 3pm Saturday to 3am Sunday.
Strong Wind Watch
Wairarapa south of Masterton, Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds – 11 hours from 9am to 8pm Friday.
Canterbury High Country – 6 hours from 11am to 5pm Friday.
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