UPDATED 1.27PM: Heavy rain lashing the Kapiti Coast has led to minor flooding, with police urging motorists to drive to the conditions.
Rain is falling over much of the North Island today; with Auckland, the Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa the hardest hit.
Central Police this afternoon issued a statement reminding motorists to drive to the conditions and be extra vigilant.
They said due to flooding, motorists should avoid Te Horo Beach Road and use either Te Hapua Road or Pukenamu Road to get to Te Horo Beach.
Motorists were also asked to watch following distances, put headlights on and keepÂ
speeds down.Â
A severe weather warning is in place for Westland, Buller, Nelson, Marlborough, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Kapiti Horowhenua, Wellington, Taranaki, and the Canterbury High Country.
It rained heavily on the West Coast and the Tararuas for much of yesterday.
More of the same is forecast for Buller, northwest Nelson, the Richmond and Bryant ranges and the Marlborough Sounds this morning.
For the Tararuas and Mount Taranaki, periods of heavy rain are expected for most of the day, with another 70 to 130 millimetres forecast.
MetService is warning people that streams and rivers are likely to continue rising, and surface flooding and slips are possible.
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