More rain to lash country

One of many flooded paddocks in the Bay of Plenty. Photo / NZPA

The eastern Bay of Plenty town of Opotiki remains isolated this morning, after heavy rain caused flooding and slips on all the roads into town.

Whakatane police Sergeant Denis Foster was one of those unable to get to his home there yesterday.

At Whakatane, work was underway to open Whakatane River's overflow area at the river mouth so that more flood waters can escape, and emergency repairs are taking place on a canal to the west of the town.

Regional Council Flood Duty Manager Graeme O'Rourke said businesses on Whakatane wharf had been given warnings as the river reached the wharf level, and the District Council had a digger lowering the overflow area on the spit, in difficult conditions.

The District Council and community were keeping a close eye on developments when the tide reaches its highest point, expected at about 11am today.

More wet weather is forecast today after many parts of the North Island were ravaged by rain and gales yesterday.

Denis Foster said anyone trying to get to Gisborne from Rotorua would have to go through Taupo and Napier.

Between 150mm to 200mm was expected in the eastern ranges by early today, with up to 125mm predicted in low-lying areas.

But the rain will ease as the front weakens.

The rain disrupted sports fixtures across the North Island yesterday and lashed boats from Auckland down the East Coast to Whakatane.

The MetService issued severe weather warnings for much of the North Island, with heavy rain predicted for Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Coromandel, Taupo, Bay of Plenty and the Gisborne ranges.

In Auckland, spring tides and high wind cost one Remuera man his yacht. Rob Erskine's yacht Shrimp broke its moorings in the middle of the night and washed up against the rocks on Tamaki Drive early yesterday morning.

"It's got about a metre-long gash on the port side and damage to the rudder and keel. Odds are it will be a write-off," Erskine said.

MetService forecaster Gerard Barrow said the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Taupo and Rotorua were hardest hit by the torrent of rain.

Some areas of the Coromandel Peninsula had 142mm of rain since midnight Friday.

In 12 hours yesterday, other areas on the Coromandel Peninsula had 80mm of rain, Whitianga had 78mm, the Kaimai Summit 63mm, Rotorua 50mm and Tauranga 47mm.

Auckland had about 20mm in the same period.

The heavy rain will ease from late morning, and the weather will become fine for the more northern parts of the country.

Trust Power was pre-emptively spilling the Matahina Dam because of the heavy rain.

- additional reporting by nzherald staff