One Aucklander tweeted a picture of his flooded garage early this morning, writing: "Dam you Auckland weather. Just sent the insurance claim off today from last time."
Further south, guests at Tokoroa's Redwood Lodge Motel were forced to evacuate their rooms after floodwaters began seeping under doors this morning.
Redwood Lodge Motel owner Anil Singh said everyone received an unscheduled early-morning wake-up call as water began rising up to 15cm in the ground-floor units.
He said it had been raining steadily since midnight and drains along State Highway One had not coped well with the deluge.
"A guest phoned me and I went knocking on their doors right away. As soon as they got out of bed they stepped into the water."
Mr Singh said the motel was full at the time and many had personal possessions drenched.
"Quite a few of them had their clothes wet because they left them on the floor," he said.
The flooding had forced to motel to close and Mr Singh was now waiting for insurers to assess the loss.
He said 11 units were extensively damaged.
"The water has receded but all the carpets are soaked and muddy," said Mr Singh.
In Kawerau, firefighters removed a trampoline after it became tangled in a television aerial when it was blown into the side of a house just before 5am.
In Matamata, a house was flooded when a creek burst its banks and waters poured through a Doug Wilson Cres home.
Northern Fire shift manager Jaron Phillips said floodwaters were lapping State Highway 1 in Tokoroa and signs would be erected to warn motorists.
Police are calling for caution on Bay of Plenty roads this morning because of surface flooding.
A spokesperson said a number of roads in the area were affected, but State Highway 5, near Earthquake Flats, south of Rotorua; SH30 between Rotorua and Whakatane and SH1, north of Tokoroa were hardest hit.
"Drivers are asked to be extra vigilant and drive to the conditions. Please watch your following distances, put your headlights on and keep your speeds down."
Metservice yesterday issued a warning for heavy rain for the Bay of Plenty, east of Whakatane, in the 24 hours to midday today. A watch was issued the western part of Bay of Plenty over the same period.
And as Aucklanders mopped up from last night's drenching, the MetService warned there would be little let-up today from stormy weather.
Forecaster Derek Holland said thunderstorms were expected to rock most western regions of the North Island from Wanganui north throughout the day, and strong, gusty winds would continue to batter the island.
Mr Holland said only areas between Gisborne and Wairarapa would escape the drenching.
Heavy rain on the west coast of the South Island would ease to showers after lunch and scattered rain was headed for the east coast.
The good news was after today's drenching there would be a brief respite.
"We're having a rest after this but no promises for the weekend, with things packing up on Sunday."
