Weather watches warning of more rain, high winds and thunderstorms cover much of the country, including areas already sodden by recent rain.
The warm, wet rain system of the past week has moved west but is due back in on Tuesday, bringing more heavy rain and a sharp drop in temperature to many regions, including Westland, Nelson, Taranaki, Coromandel, and Auckland.
Heavy rain is also forecast for the Canterbury and Otago headwaters.
The swollen Maitai River in Central Nelson. Photo: RNZ/ Samantha Gee
Metservice communications meteorologist John Law spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
