Northerly gales were still hitting the capital this afternoon but gales on Mt Kaukau have eased from hurricane force, which is where they were this morning when gusts reached over 170kmh.
The Rimutaka Hill Rd, where gusts of 150kmh were recorded, has now reopened.
Heavy rain was now falling across the Waikato, much to the relief of farmers but rain is easing in the central North Island.
Fire service central spokesman Chris Dalton said it had been a busy morning for the service, but there had not been any serious incidents attended.
"The majority of fire appliances in the Greater Wellington area have been to a call-out this morning," he said.
MetService forecaster Richard Finnie said the winds had now peaked around Wellington and were easing off.
"The highest wind speed we've had is at Rimutaka Hill Rd - we've had gusts up to 78 knots, which is 144km/h - and at Mt Kaukau we had gusts to 172km/h.
"On the Kapiti Coast we had gusts of 60knots (111km/h) at the airport - that's quite high for them."
Mr Finnie said the band of rain was now moving up the North Island, with the heaviest falls in the central North Island around the central plateau and Mt Taranaki.
He said the showers should move through Auckland fairly quickly but will be heavy.
Campers preparing for evacuation
Campers and trampers have been told to prepare for evacuation as rivers rise rapidly, in many parts threatening to burst their banks.
Network Tasman is working to restore power for Rockville and Bainham residents in Golden Bay.
While flood waters are reported to be receding, several South Island roads are still closed due to surface flooding, including SH60 at Takaka, cutting off much of Golden Bay, SH6 at Renwick and at Canvastown (between Blenheim and Nelson), SH6 at the Lower Buller Gorge, SH63 between Arthurs Pass and Otira, SH73 between Otira and Kumara, SH69 from Inangahua to Reefton, SH65 from Murchison to Springs Junction, SH67 from Westport to Mokihinui, and SH7 Hanmer Springs to Springs Junction.
The James Road bridge in Bainham has been washed away. Bainham is on the Aorere River, seventy-five miles from Nelson.
A bridge in the Glen Roy Valley, near Murchison, has been washed out.
Click here for a list of road closures.
Police say that some motorists are putting themselves at risk by ignoring road closure signs.
"The closures are in place due to the dangerous conditions and members of the public are reminded that they must comply with any closure signs," Southern Communications Centre shift commander Inspector John Doherty said.
The Tasman district has been one of the worst affected by the weather with the Civil Defence being activated in response to rivers running at record high level following heavy overnight rain.
However, the Aorere River has dropped a metre since peaking and the Anatoki and Waingaro rivers are also dropping. The Riwaka River has experienced average flooding but is now receding. The Wangapeka River will continue to run at a high level for the next couple of hours.
The road to Ferntown, between Collingwood and the start of the Heaphy Track, is still impassable but the Totaranui Road is now clear.
Civil Defence continues to advise people in the Nelson Tasman region to keep away from streams and rivers and to exercise care on roads.
Flood-trapped residents
Fire service spokesman Andrew Norris said the Rye Valley Volunteer Fire Brigade this morning rescued occupants from one vehicle who got trapped in their vehicle by flood water on SH6 at Pelorus Bridge, near Havelock. No one was injured, he said.
Mr Norris said the fire service had been to a "couple of dozen" callouts today as a result of the wild weather.
"There are some people who are trapped in their homes which are surrounded in flood water. It is safer for them to stay where they are," he said.
Regional Civil Defence Controller Jim Frater said "We are continuing to monitor river levels closely. At this stage we are not dealing with too many problems, although there is significant flooding in the Aorere and Anatoki rivers.
"The forecast is for the rain to ease. It will be difficult and damp time for campers."
MetService today issued a heavy-rain warning for Westland, Otago, parts of Canterbury, Buller, Nelson, Marlborough, Wellington and the Kapiti Coast, the Tararua Range, Taranaki, the Central North Island high country and the ranges of the eastern Bay of Plenty.
Severe weather warnings for the South Island have now been lifted.
Click here for the MetService warnings.
Mountain Safety Council chief Executive Officer Darryl Carpenter advised trampers in the South Island to stay indoors, but if they did go out to take particular care around swollen rivers.
"You should never cross a flooded or fast-flowing river or stream. If in doubt, stay out. Trampers and day walkers have lost their lives after being swept away when attempting to cross swollen rivers.
"The best plan is to sit out poor weather conditions, camp an extra night or two and wait until the weather improves. This means taking extra food, a communications device such as mountain radio or personal locator beacon and other equipment appropriate to the terrain and conditions."
Bad weather likely to clear by this evening
Yesterday MetService duty forecaster Oliver Druce said the front would affect most of New Zealand.
But it was also fast-moving and the worst of the bad weather should clear by this evening. "We think this will be a very severe event," he said.
"There is potential for flooding and overflowing rivers from heavy rains and also damage from heavy winds in some places."
Weather Watch chief analyst Philip Duncan yesterday said Auckland, Coromandel and Northland would be on the edge of the stormiest weather.
"However, even winds of 30km/h can make for uncomfortable sleeping conditions in tents and awnings, and winds may be gusting to more than twice that amount - up to 70 or even 80km/h in exposed areas."
Most of the country would enjoy a dry New Year's Eve, he predicted. "Once this weather has cleared by Wednesday morning, we can all go back to having summer weather again."
MetService reported the weather system was moving quickly across the country and more settled weather was likely to follow for the first week of the New Year.
