Heavy rain is hitting the north of the country today, and more is expected this afternoon.
Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Northland has had the worst so far, but the rain has now reached Auckland and the Bay of Plenty, where thunderstorms are expected throughout the day.
Last night Kerikeri recieved 92 millimetres of rain - more than half of the monthly total of 171 millimeters for June last year.
Met Service meteorologist Claire Flynn says while its fine in Northland for now, a severe rain watch is in place for the night.
And she said there is no escape from the wet weather today for Auckland and the Bay of Plenty.
The transport agency is advising motorists to be careful while driving around Auckland today.
There's flooding along State Highway one near the Oteha Valley Road onramp near Albany, and localised flooding along the Dome Valley on State Highway one between Wellsford and Warkworth.
Niwa said moisture from the sub-tropics is being pulled south by the clockwise flow of air around a low pressure system in the Tasman Sea.