A heavy rain warning is already in place for Gisborne/Tairāwhiti and Coromandel, with Hawke's Bay set to be added from 10am.
Northland and Whanganui are the places to be in the North Island today for the best weather. For the rest of the island, MetService is forecasting heavy rain and/or strong winds.
Rainfall totals of up to 130 millimetres are expected across Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and the Coromandel Peninsula before the day is out, with orange warnings active across all three regions.
MetService meteorologist Katie Lyons said campers in the Coromandel will already be waking to soggy conditions.
🟡🟧Wet Weather for Holiday and Festival Goers🟧🟡 Monday and into Tuesday weather gets wet and wild with heavy rain and gale southeasterlies. Check for any Severe Weather Warnings or Watches for your area here: https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5 pic.twitter.com/XIAEgZglyy — MetService NZ (@MetService) December 27, 2025
"Unfortunately, things in the Coromandel have deteriorated overnight with that rain setting in. Places in the hills of Coromandel are seeing about 30mm of rain already."
Auckland, Great Barrier Island and Coromandel are currently under a strong wind watch, as will be the central North Island from 10am.
Severe gale warnings come into force for Manawatu, Horowhenua and the Kapiti Coast from 4pm. The Tararua district and Wairarapa will move under a heavy rain watch from 6pm.
From 10pm, a strong wind watch takes effect across the Marlborough Sounds, Nelson, Buller, Grey District and Westland.
Festivalgoers heading to New Year's events, including Rhythm and Vines, have been warned to watch out for wild weather on the roads.
