The region is waking up to a drenching and it's set to get worse.
A front is forecast to slide north across central and northern New Zealand, bringing a shift in the weather for many parts of the country.
MetService meteorologist Melissa Oosterwijk said 6.5mm of rain was recorded at Tauranga Airport in half an hour this morning while 30mm was recorded in 6 hours in the Eastern Bay of Plenty ranges.
Rotorua had 6mm recorded in 6 hours.