Driver has narrow escape near Tokoroa after tree collapses onto car

A motorist has had a lucky escape after a large tree fell and crushed his vehicle near Tokoroa.

The car hit the tree after it collapsed in high winds near the corner of Tamatea Rd and State Highway 1 around 9pm on Friday.

The tree struck the front of the vehicle, crushing the bonnet and windscreen, and partially damaging the roof.

The driver was the sole occupant of the car and was unharmed.

Emergency services attended, and the vehicle was towed.

Wild weather battered large parts of the country with heavy rain and winds on Friday.

A driver was unharmed after a large tree fell on to his car. Photo / John Van de Ven

MetService meteorologist John Law said more showers may develop this afternoon, particularly affecting areas from Taranaki up through Waikato.

A heavy rain watch is in place for the Westland ranges until 3am on Monday. It came into force at 7am.

Around 13,000 Network Tasman customers were without power overnight, with repair crews beginning restoration efforts this morning.

Civil Defence said this afternoon around 3200 properties were still without power in the Motueka and Golden Bay areas.

Nearly 5000 homes were also without power across Banks Peninsula overnight.

Tapawera was cut off from much of Tasman District because of flooding, and also lost mobile phone coverage.

Reports of lifted roofs, fallen trees and stranded residents were widespread across the district.

All residents connected to a Tasman District Council water supply were urged to conserve water until further notice.

Four Civil Defence Centres have been opened to support those unable to return home, Nelson Tasman Civil Defence has confirmed.

Multiple roads are closed at the top of the South Island and will continue until further notice. This includes State Highway 6 Rocks Rd in Nelson, according to NZTA.

Flooding and slips also caused major disruption on roads across Northland overnight.