18/07/2009
Houses are without power and roads have been closed due to wild weather in the North Island.
Heavy rain and winds started last night, and are expected to continue until later this afternoon.
Northpower, who supply power to the Northland area, reported widespread cuts, from Riverside (near the Whangarei city centre) to Twin Bridge (28km south of Kaikohe).
Whangarei police said they have had some calls for trees that have fallen.
The Desert Road on State Highway 1 is now open after closing around 8am today because of snow.
Gisborne police said the Waikohu River has caused surface flooding on Matawai Road, near Te Karaka, northwest of Gisborne but as there were no houses in the area to be affected they would keep the road open.
The Met Office said heavy rain in the eastern Bay of Plenty and Gisborne was expected to continue until late this afternoon.
Streams and rivers in the high country could rise quickly and there could be slips as between 80mm and 120mm was forecast for the hills and high country.
-NZPA
