At least five homes have been evacuated after three major land slips in the Wellington region this morning.
A section of one of Tawa's main arterial routes has been closed after a tree came down on it as wild weather continues to wreck havoc in the Wellington region.
Main Road, in the Wellington suburb of Tawa, was closed late Saturday afternoon after a tree came down on it.
Diversions are in place while the tree is removed and police are urging motorists to take care on the roads while this wet weather continues.
A Wellington City Council spokesman said it was explected to take several hours to remove the fallen tree.
"It's been a sodden day in the Wellington area today - with heavy rain causing surface flooding in many low-lying areas," he said.
"Wellington City Council's call centre has received more than 400 calls during the day from people reporting flooding and slips. City Council contractors have been kept busy clearing floodwaters from low-lying roads.
"Motorists and other road users are now advised to take care due to the reported number of slips coming down on roads in steeper parts of the city."
Earlier in the day at least five homes have been evacuated after three major land slips in the Wellington region.
"The slip is right up against the house but there doesn't appear to be any damage at this stage. Residents have been advised that it's not safe to enter," she said.
Firefighters were called to another slip at 8.26am on Rangiora Ave in Kaiwharawhaura. It was threatening three houses, which were evacuated.
"Apparently a stream was re-directed by the slip which was causing issues but it's since been re-diverted."
Sandbags had been brought in to protect houses on the street.
The slip on Military Road, Northland , Wellington. Photo / Jo Moon
"There's no damage but I don't think the houses are too safe to go into."
The third slip was on Military Rd in Northland and was threatening at least one house.
Mills said it had been raining heavily in the region all morning.
The Fire Service had also been called to flooding in a houses in Kilbirnie and Newlands.
Northland resident Pattrick Smellie said it had been raining heavily in the capital for the past couple of days.
"The sun hasn't come out in Wellington since Donald Trump was elected," he said.
A fire truck had been spotted near Military Rd around 1pm but was gone by 3pm.
A stream running down the hill was flowing very quickly but it was normal for the stream to look "quite dramatic" when there was heavy rain, he said.
Smellie said he could not see a slip in the area and residents in houses at the bottom of Military Rd on Garden Rd told him they had not been told their houses were in danger.
The rain was forecast to ease this evening but it was looking like a wet week ahead.
"It's been a pretty miserable day in the capital and we had a big rainfall in the Wellington region just a few days ago," he said.
"When the wind comes from the south Wellington really gets it, so it's been pretty widespread throughout the greater Wellington region but it eases off as you head up the coast."
WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said some of his followers said they were writing off the day and opening the wine early.
"The southerly change that we're seeing is quite slow-moving around Wellington and we're seeing these heavy downpours lingering and actually getting a bit bigger as we head into this afternoon, but it will ease as we get into tonight."
Spring rain battered the West Coast, Taranaki, Wellington and Golden Bay last night and this morning and the warm weather in the north will end as a cold front moves in.
"It will be patchy in Auckland the rest of today and cloudy again on Sunday morning," WeatherWatch analyst Aaron Wilkinson said. "But things should brighten up later in the afternoon, with temperatures in the late teens."
A low pressure system moving up to the east of the country which originated from the Tasman is causing the unsettled weather, Wilkinson said.
"This is what has been causing the rain and strong winds in places like Wellington and parts of the lower east coast.
"For a change, the best place to be over the next few days is Fiordland and the south west corner of the country."
Heavy rain is expected across most of the North Island again on Monday, after a warm but windy day tomorrow.
"On Monday, temperatures could get up to 23 degrees in Northland and the east coast will also be warm," Wilkinson said.
"In the South Island , southerly winds will come in behind another low from the Tasman which will mean some more cold weather travelling up the country."
Today's weather
• Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty: Morning heavy rain, possible thunderstorms, easing to odd shower. Sunny spells from afternoon. Highs 16-18C.
• Western North Island: Few showers then evening rain, easing overnight. Highs 16-18C.
• Eastern North Island: Early rain clearing, gusty southwest change develops. Highs 21-23C.
• Wellington: Rain, heavy this afternoon easing by evening. High 14C.
• Marlbourough and Nelson: Areas of rain easing, breezy southerly winds. High 16-18C.
