Fire service spokesman Jaron Phillips said he had heard reports of trees and powerlines down in several parts of the North Island, including Oakura, Waverly, New Plymouth and Dannevirke, where a tree branch had been blocking State Highway 2.
Two trampolines had taken off in high winds, one in Oakura and the other in Spotswood, New Plymouth.
Philips said fire had received a call from a family in Spotswood saying a trampoline was on their property - but it was not theirs.
Fire services thought it may have blown over their neighbour's fence.
Police earlier closed off State Highway 2, north of Katikati, due to flooding; while Southern Police urged motorists to drive carefully after icy roads led to a number of incidents of vehicles sliding.
Expect high winds to ease today. Photo / via MetService
There was a dramatic rescue after a truck plunged at least 50m into the Manawatu Gorge yesterday morning. One person was winched from the truck cab while the second was helped from near the truck, the Philips Search and Rescue Trust said. The truck's occupants, a man and woman aged in their 40s, were taken to Palmerston North Hospital. Three of their rescuers were also taken to hospital, but were not admitted.
Hawke's Bay copped a lot of rain in the past 24 hours, MetService meteorologist Matthew Ford said this morning.
The small inland settlement of Te Pohue recorded 83mm, Wharerata on the east coast north of Mahia Peninnsula 78.8mm, Hastings 35mm and Napier 30.8mm.
Ford said rain was easing across the North Island, but there would still be a few showers in Northland, the East Coast, Hawkes Bay and Wellington.
