Severe weather warnings remain as heavy rain and strong winds batter the country.

It comes as parts of New Zealand remain in clean-up mode following severe weather events earlier this year, such as Cyclone Hale, Cyclone Gabrielle, and Auckland's anniversary weekend floods.

Northland received the most rain overnight, with Kaikohe reaching 200 millimetres in the past 24 hours to 6am.

In Thames-Coromandel, overnight downpours reached 81mm and more rain is expected throughout the day.

At 6am, Auckland was the wettest place in the country, with 25mm overnight, half of that was since 4am.

Intermittent bursts of rain were occurring in the central city.

Heads up upper North Island, including Auckland region and Coromandel.

Heavy rain is developing offshore.

Periods of heavy rain will occur this morning. Some rain will be torrential.

This afternoon, heaviest rain most likely Coromandel to BoP.

Risk for flooding/slips. pic.twitter.com/BQoEHIL0Rg

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) April 30, 2023

As the bad weather moves south, MetService says thunderstorms are expected in the Bay of Plenty area.

Fire and Emergency NZ said it had not yet received any weather-related callouts.

As of 6.30am, orange heavy rain warnings are in place for Northland, Coromandel, parts of Bay of Plenty, Tasman, north of Motueka, and Westland, south of Otira.

Yellow heavy rain warnings are in place for Auckland, including Great Barrier Island, parts of Bay of Plenty, including Gisborne.

Yellow strong wind warnings are in place for Auckland and Coromandel.

MetService says the bad weather was being caused by an "active front associated with a subtropical low" that was moving down the country.

It was "slow moving" and the rest of the week was looking "pretty unsettled", Meteorologist John Law says.

John says the warnings are being extended to Bay of Plenty as the day goes on and MetService is "keeping a close eye" on the region on Monday and throughout the week.

The weather is also moving down to the South Island where western parts of the Tasman district were expected to "bear the brunt of the rainfall".

"Unfortunately more wet weather is to come," says MetService meteorologist John Law.

John told Morning Report it was "really worth" people keeping an eye on the forecast as "unfortunately more wet weather is to come" and warnings could be upgraded or changed.

As winter came, Law says it is likely northern parts of the country who were experiencing heavy rain events may become more settled as warm, moist air coming from the north was lost.
'Keeping a close eye'

The Coromandel region appears to have handled the rain well, its district mayor says, but more would be seen throughout the morning.

Thames-Coromandel district mayor Len Salt told Morning Report the region is still in recovery mode from earlier severe weather events, including Cyclone Gabrielle.

Salt says 81mm of rain had fallen in the area overnight, but it appeared to have spread throughout the night, making it more manageable.

Teams had done "a lot" of work to prepare for heavy rain, such as clearing culverts so they could drain properly.

"At the moment, we are not in too bad a shape but nervously watching what is coming down the line," says Salt.

"We seem to have come through OK but we are keeping a close eye on it."

Salt says residents are also being asked to keep an eye on any differences they may notice in the land and let officials know if they had any concerns.

Auckland public transport affected

The weather affected Auckland ferry services on Sunday, and that continue on Monday.

Auckland Transport says Gulf Harbour ferry services would be replaced with alternative transport because of the weather.

It included the 7.30am, 10.30am and 12.30pm services from Auckland to Gulf Harbour and the 6.30am, 7am, 7.30am, 8.30am, 11.30am and 1.30pm services from Gulf Harbour to Auckland.