Photo: MetService
Northland and Whanganui are the places to be in the North Island today for the best weather.
For the rest of the island, MetService is forecasting heavy rain and/or strong winds.
A heavy rain warning is currently in place for Gisborne/Tairāwhiti and Coromandel, and for Hawke's Bay from 10am.
Up to 130 millimetres of rain could fall in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and the Coromandel Peninsula throughout today, with orange warnings in place.
Metservice meteorologist Katie Lyons said campers in the Coromandel will already be waking 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."
️Rain Band Moving South️
— MetService NZ (@MetService) December 28, 2025
Heavy Rain Warnings are still in their early days, so accumulations are just starting to climb.
❓You can see two different directions of rain due to different wind flows at different levels of the atmosphere!
Check out the radar here:… pic.twitter.com/zmUEP3SLSF
She said the rain would reach Gisborne later on Monday morning.
"Tolaga Bay is most in the firing line - the rain rates are expected to be a bit higher and accumulations a bit higher as well," she said.
Auckland, Great Barrier Island and Coromandel are currently under a strong wind watch, as will be the central North Island from 10am.
Wet Weather for Holiday and Festival Goers
— MetService NZ (@MetService) December 27, 2025
Monday and into Tuesday weather gets wet and wild with heavy rain and gale southeasterlies.
Check for any Severe Weather Warnings or Watches for your area here: https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5 pic.twitter.com/XIAEgZglyy
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.
