Because of power outages there is a water conservation notice issued and residents are being told to only flush toilets when necessary.
Te Teko is without water and a tanker is being organised while parts of Ohope, Hillcrest and Mokuroa have no water available.
Whakatane had gusts up to 100km/h, peaking about 7pm-8pm and 130 people spent the night in an evacuation centre in the township.
The highest wind gust was about 4pm, when about 200km/h was recorded on White Island.
Northern fire communications dealt with more than 100 call-outs between Opotiki and Mount Maunganui between 6pm and 9.30 last night.
Slips, trees and debris closed roads including State Highway 2 heading east into Opotiki, and some travellers who couldn't get home were forced to bunk down in the Whakatane War Memorial Hall overnight.
Waikato
Firefighters in Waikato responded to 20 weather-related calls, mostly to flooding in houses, trees down or powerlines down.
Hawke's Bay
More than 1000 people are still without power in Gisborne, Wairoa and the East Coast this morning with Unison Power reporting more than 9000 outages overnight around the Hawke's Bay.
The airport had gusts up to 100km/h, and peaked about 8pm-9pm. Gusts up to 150km/h were recorded on Cape Kidnappers.
Central fire services dealt with about 50 weather-related call-outs in Hawke's Bay as wind battered the area from 8.30pm to 9.30pm.
However, call-outs involved trees falling on buildings, and dozens more tree-related jobs were passed on to local councils.
Gisborne
Hicks Bay in northern Gisborne and the Hawke's Bay coast all saw gusts around 150km/h, peaking about 9-10pm. Gisborne was gusting up to 95km/h about 6pm.
The heaviest rain was around parts of the Gisborne ranges, where 100mm-130mm fell during an 18-hour period starting Thursday morning.
Power lines were knocked down and a shop window was smashed by the wind. About 400 homes were without power in Rotorua.
Wairarapa
Gusts up to 100km/h overnight.
Kaikoura
Could see wind gusts of 90-100km/h from Kaikoura down to Canterbury this morning, as well as heavy rain around the east of Marlborough and the Kaikoura coast.
The NZ Transport Agency has closed State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura while crews inspect and ensure the road is passable after heavy rain fell in the district overnight. The next update on the road will be at noon.
The agency advised Inland Route 70 is open and clear to Kaikoura this morning but asked motorists allow up to three and a half hours from Christchurch via this route.
Christchurch
South Island firefighters have gone to three Canterbury homes which have called for help with flooding as heavy rain drenches the region.
A Fire Service spokesman said this morning's flooding, which happened in Rangiora and Kaiapoi, was minor and was only affecting land surrounding the homes.
"It's very quiet compared with what we were expecting," said the spokesman.
- Source: MetService
