KEY POINTS:
The big storm arrived early this morning, but it is not as bad as some forecasters expected.
There is heavy rain falling on the northern part of the North Island this morning.
Thirty-five millimetres has been recorded in Kaikohe overnight, and it is still coming down.
MetService forecaster Andy Downs says the winds are quite severe, with gales recorded at 120 kilometres an hour in Kerikeri.
He says the front is moving southeast and will bring heavier rain to Auckland, the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty over the course of the day.
Andy Downs says up to 90 millimetres of rain is expected in parts of Bay of Plenty, and weather warnings are likely for parts of Canterbury and Otago later on.
- NEWSTALK ZB
