Ngauranga Gorge crash closes southbound lane

Police are at the bottom of the Ngauranga Gorge, north of Wellington, attending a crash that is blocking one southbound lane.

Inspector Ken Climo said motorists need to take "extreme care" this morning.

He said there are reports of surface flooding after last night's heavy rains and motorists should watch their following distances.

The MetService has issued heavy rain warnings for most areas as an intense rain band moves over New Zealand.

Weather forecaster Bob McDavitt says the situation is due to a low pressure system which is a combination of the one that brought floods to New South Wales earlier in the week and the remains of Tropical Cyclone Innis near New Caledonia.

He says the North Island will be worst hit, particularly central hill country areas. The heaviest falls are likely to be on Mt Taranaki and in the ranges of Bay of Plenty.

Mr McDavitt says unfortunately the low is slow moving, so the rain will stick around for much of the weekend.

- NEWSTALK ZB, NZ HERALD STAFF