New storm warnings issued for upper North Island

Fresh storm warnings have been issued for the top of the North Island.

Severe gales gusting up to 120 kilometres an hour could buffet Northland, Auckland, Coromandel the Bay of Plenty and East Cape areas.

There have already been several weather-related incidents.

Trees have fallen across roadways across the entire region, and roads have also been blocked by mudslides near Rotorua.

Power cables and a power pole have been brought down in the Waikato. In Dargaville, a canopy came adrift from a service station forecourt.

Various debris have blown off vehicles as well. A large amount of timber plywood fell off a trailer being towed by a vehicle on the Southern Motorway near Conifer Grove, South Auckland.

Forecasters are also warning of abnormally high tides.

Combined with strong onshore winds, they could produce significant storm tides in the Hauraki Gulf, Firth of Thames and Bay of Plenty.

- NEWSTALK ZB