For the second time in its 40 year history, the first day of the annual Colgate Games has been cancelled at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium for "health and safety purposes".
Colgate Games North Island chairwoman Fiona Maisey said the unpleasant weather had caused children to slip on the long jump and become very wet and cold.
"We spoke to Civil Defence and MetService and on their advice decided to cancel the rest of today's events."
She noted the last time they could recall this happening was in 1989 in Whangarei.
A contingent of up to 60 children from Hawke's Bay, including Hastings, Napier, Wairoa, Central Hawke's Bay and Dannevirke are among 1457 up and coming athletes who are competing against one another in an array of running, jumping and throwing events.