Weather: Heavy rain, strong winds for much of country

Strong wind warnings have been upgraded to cover most of the North Island today, as well as the upper West Coast of the South Island.

MetService said gusts could reach 120 kilometres-an-hour in Waitako, the central North Island, Taranaki, Manawatū, Kāpiti Coast, and Coromandel Peninsula.

Orange wind warnings are also in place for the Marlborough Sounds, Nelson and the West Coast north of Aoraki/Mount Cook.

Lines company PowerCo is reporting a number of outages, including 375 properties in Carterton and 109 in Horopito.

It has restored power to Kennedy Bay, Matamata and Te Aroha.

Parts of Northland are also without power after cuts earlier this afternoon.

422 Northpower customers lost power shortly after midday at Kaiwaka.

181 Northpower customers are without electricity at Maungaturoto, while a tree damaging power lines has cut 224 customers off around Kaiwaka and 235 customers are without electricity at Mangawhai.

Repairs are still ongoing further north at Kauri, where a tree damaging lines this morning cut power to 285 customers.

Heavy rain warnings are in place for Hawke's Bay, Gisborne and the Coromandel Peninsula.

Up to 130 millimetres of rain could fall in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and the Coromandel Peninsula throughout today, with orange warnings in place.

Yachtie in the water

A yachtie has ended up in the water north of Auckland, after trying to get clear of the windy conditions.

The Coastguard said the man asked for help because he was worried his mooring line might snap at Leigh.

Kawau volunteers responded but it was not safe for them to reach him, the Coastguard said.

It said the man then tried to get to shore in his tender but he ended up in the water.

Police said emergency services were called at about 2.10pm but the man was safely on land 10 minutes later and was checked by ambulance crews.

'It's an interesting direction'

Earlier, Metservice meteorologist Katie Lyons said campers in the Coromandel would have woken to soggy conditions.

"Unfortunately, things in the Coromandel have deteriorated overnight with that rain setting in. Places in the hills of Coromandel are seeing about 30mm of rain already."

A warning of severe gales has been issued for Manawatu, Horowhenua and Kapiti coast from 4pm, while the Tararua district and Wairarapa will be under a heavy rain watch from 6pm.

From 10pm the Marlborough Sounds, Nelson, Buller, Grey District and Westland will be under a strong wind watch.

Lyons said people in the Kāpiti Coast and Manawatū should prepare for the strong southeasterlies by tying down loose objects.

"It's an interesting direction because you'd think they would be quite sheltered. But these southeasterlies can come up and down the other side of those hills, accelerating and and gaining speed as they do so," she said.

"Not everyone will necessarily feel the the full fury of these winds, but particularly those in exposed places."

Lyons said the South Island is experiencing the calmest weather conditions.

"While it has its things going on, it's definitely much better than than the North Island. In particular, places like the West Coast, maybe Fiordland as well, are really the the better spots for today. Eventually things will move south towards them as well."

Festivalgoers for New Year's events such as Rhythm and Vines have been warned to watch out for wild weather on the roads.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.