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Heavy rain and winds in Northland have cut power to around 800 homes and rising flood waters have made some roads impassable in the region.
Lines company Vector said electricity problems were at their worst at Te Hana, north of Wellsford, where 500 homes had been blacked out.
The MetService this morning issued a severe weather warning advising people to look out for rapidly rising waterways as heavy falls spread to Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula.
Police from the township of Kaeo this afternoon said Dip Road and Hospital Road were reported to be under a metre of water, while SH10 at Whangaroa Road is expected to also become impassable.
Maston Road in Paihia had been washed away and the road was closed. Detours were in place.
"Local residents are warned to avoid travel in the affected areas," said Mr Brooker.
The weather conditions also played a part in a serious crash on State Highway 1 at the Dome Valley.
Police believe a driver lost control and their vehicle slid across the road, running head-on into two cars coming the other way.
One woman was badly hurt and another person suffered moderate injuries. The road has reopened but police have advised caution.
The MetService said today's heaviest falls would be in the hills north of Whangarei where some 70-90mm of rain was expected between 9am and 9pm, with falls reaching 15mm per hour at times.
Northern parts of Auckland could expect 50-70mm of rain.
Heavy rain is also expected to hit the South Island, falling in the ranges of northwest Nelson, Fiordland and the Westland ranges south of Otira.
From Saturday night the rain in the south should ease, but the MetService said another front would move onto the South Island on Sunday afternoon - bringing more heavy rain to the West Coast.
Meanwhile, the heavy weather caused some damage overnight.
Three boats were washed off their moorings in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour.
Two were recovered before they could hit rocks but a yacht was washed ashore on Tamaki Drive and holed. It was secured and expected to be left where it was overnight until the weather abated tomorrow.
In west Auckland a man was cut free from his car when it overturned on the slippery roads conditions in Titirangi.
High winds were forecast for motorists driving over the Auckland Harbour Bridge and they were advised to drive with extreme care.
The Coastguard Northern Region advised boaties to stay at home as the harbour surface chopped up.
On Auckland's North Shore, several trees were blown down, causing a minor power cut to parts of Castor Bay and Milford.
Many householders who did not bring in their wheelie bins after yesterday's collection on the North Shore had to take a walk down the road to collect them after they were blown over and took off in the high winds.
The Fire Service reported few road accidents from the slippery conditions overnight but urged motorists to take care.
The weather has caused Auckland's Starlight Symphony at the Domain to be postponed until 7.30pm on Sunday and the Two Handed Round North Island yacht race to be delayed until Sunday at 10am.
South of Auckland, the national rowing champs on Lake Karapiro near Cambridge, began on time today although the lake surface was a little rough. The lake was relatively sheltered and rowing was expected to be held for most of the day.
- NZPA / NZHERALD STAFF / NEWSTALK ZB
