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Relentless rain is tonight continuing to drench the country, resulting in school closures, flooded homes and travellers being stranded by impassable roads.
WeatherWatch reported flooding had closed State Highway 1, west of the Bay of Islands, and caused surface flooding on farms in the area.
In the Far North, schools in Kaeo closed because of the rain, with parents asked to collect their children at 9.15am, the website said.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council was keeping a close watch on developing weather conditions and field crews were on standby to respond to any rivers and drainage issues that might arise.
Rainfall was expected to fall at 25mm an hour, and 60-80mm per hour could fall about the coast by tomorrow morning.
Council flood duty manager Graeme O'Rourke said there were pre-emptive warnings on all major river schemes except the Rangitaki-Tarawera scheme.
"A number of precautionary measures have been taken with pumps and drainage systems in preparation for heavy rainfall, and staff will be on standby throughout the night to respond if required," Mr O'Rourke said.
River levels could rise quickly because of the already saturated catchments, he said.
"Farmers should move stock to higher ground now if they haven't already as the Otara, Waioeka, Waimana and Whakatane rivers are expected peak later this evening," Mr O'Rourke said.
Lakes in Rotorua were at their maximum levels and the Okere Gates in Rotorua had been opened to maximum flows from Lake Rotoiti into the Kaituna River.
MetService has issued a heavy rain warning for Tongariro National Park, eastern Bay of Plenty, northern Gisborne and parts of Northland.
An active front is moving eastwards across the North Island and should clear East Cape in the early hours of tomorrow.
People in those areas should look out for rapidly rising rivers and streams. Surface flooding and slips were also possible, MetService said.
Meanwhile, Nelson residents are drying out after a night of torrential rain and looking to the clean-up.
Roads throughout the Nelson-Tasman region had reopened but motorists were urged to remain vigilant as there would still be debris being cleared away, Nelson communications advisor Nan Ward said.
At least 10 houses were evacuated this morning in Hope, near Richmond, on the outskirts of Nelson, amid concerns over rising streams feeding off the Richmond Hill.
Some roads in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough remained closed today due to slips and surface flooding, but rivers and floodwaters were receding.
In Marlborough, surface flooding and minor slips closed SH6 at Canvastown between Havelock and the Rai Valley, while caution was advised on SH63 between St Arnaud and Renwick.
In the Tasman District, SH60 was closed at Waitapu near Pupu Springs, while Abel Tasman Drive was closed near the Wainui Falls.
The Aorere Valley Rd in Golden Bay remained closed and speed restrictions were in place over the Takaka Hill.
Motorists were advised to drive with caution throughout the affected districts due to the risk of isolated slips or surface flooding.
- NZPA
