Severe weather is hammering parts of the country.
There is now a severe thunderstorm watch in Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupō and Gisborne until about midday tomorrow.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has activated its Flood Room emergency response as the Ngongotahā River levels rise after heavy rain this morning.
The Rotorua District Council is asking residents on Western Rd in Ngongotaha to evacuate as a precaution and teams are door knocking in the area.
In Auckland overnight there were 70 callouts to flooding and earlier today the city had gridlock traffic because of the floods. Meteorologist John Law has an update on the next 24 hours of weather.
Photo: RNZ / Lucy Xia
