Wild weather: What you need to know

With wild weather around much of the country expected to last through the afternoon, our guide provides the latest key information.

West Coast and Tasman rivers have overflowed and caused flooding, while much of Auckland and Northland has been left without power after wind brought down power lines.

See our full report

• Flooding hits West Coast, Nelson, Tasman

West Coast - Rain and river

• Waiho River has breached its bank about 11.50pm last night
• Heavy rain warning
• Local state of emergency declared
• 186 people have been evacuated from Scenic Circle Hotel, Top Ten Holiday Park and Westwood Lodge in Franz Josef
• State Highway 6 has reopened north of Franz Josef township
• The water supply has been damaged and some areas are entirely without tapwater

Tasman - River in flood

• At least 12 homes have flooded after Riwaka River overflowed
• Some homes have been evacuated
• State Highway 60 closed at Riwaka, and between Upper Takaka and Collingwood
• About 20 homes on the hill above SH 60 have been cut off
• A slip is blocking West Bank Road in Mārahau, and Motueka has extensive surface flooding
• Nelson council has warned against collecting shellfish and swimming in Tahunanui Beach, Waimea Estuary and Nelson Haven after sewage overflowed from pump stations

Auckland and Northland - Power out

• Strong winds have downed trees, affecting power lines
• Up to 18,000 homes and businesses in Auckland and 6000 in Northland affected at peak of the problem
• About 1500 in Auckland still without power
• A house fire caused by arcing power lines was extinguished before firefighters arrived
• A serious crash on SH16 had compounded very heavy traffic across the city
• Worst affected areas around Warkworth, Waiheke Island and the eastern bays of North Shore
• Heavy rain expected this evening
• A wind warning was in place for the Harbour Bridge and Mangere Bridge

National weather warnings

• Heavy rain warning for the Northland, Taranaki, the Coromandel Peninsula, Marlborough, Nelson, Buller and Westland Wednesday night and Thursday
• Heavy rain warning for Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Gisborne Thursday until Friday morning
• The most intense rain, up to about 200mm, expected about Nelson, Buller, Westland

Flooding in Motueka Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal

Weather outlook

• Weatherwatch said a front would move off the top of the South Island this morning, while a southerly change will push northwards, bringing a cool change and showers to the South Island's east coast.
• Some heavy falls are also expected in Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay Of Plenty, although these are expected to clear late afternoon or evening.