Fire and Emergency northern shift manager Craig Dally said crews armed with chainsaws were called to around 30 different spots between Auckland and Kaeo in the Far North over the space of six hours.
Calls started around 6.30pm and didn't let up until after midnight. Even as dawn broke, calls continued to come in from the Rodney District requesting help to move the downed trees off roads.
At least two households made calls for help after the intense rain saw floodwaters filling their homes, he said.
But at least 98 per cent of weather-related emergency calls were to do with downed trees.
MetService lead forecaster Michael Martenns said eastern parts of Auckland were lashed by gusts of up to 110km/h overnight while Northland had even stronger winds of up to 130km/h.
Kerikeri recorded 115mm of rain in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, there'll be no let-up in the stormy weather for the next 24 hours.
MetService has issued a swathe of warnings and watches covering the top third of the North Island.
The intense rain is expected to continue today with downpours continuing to drench Northland down to Gisborne.
Strong winds will also batter Auckland this morning and Waikato until tonight.
Coromandel is bracing for a soaking, with up to 140mm of rain, and residents are being warned of the worst deluges after lunch.
Martenns said the rain had started in Coromandel before dawn and within the space of a few hours as much as 100mm had fallen in the ranges.
MetService issued a warning saying the heavy rain could cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips were also possible and driving conditions could become hazardous.
