Heavy rain has flooded out two houses in Kapiti, north of Wellington, and more rain is forecast for Mount Taranaki and the Tararua Range.
The Fire Service has been pumping water out of two houses in Paraparaumu and Raumati South on the Kapiti Coast as heavy rain hit the Wellington region.
NZTA said flooding had closed Block Road in Melling, Lower Hutt, and that motorists should use Melling Link, and a slip is being cleared on State Highway 2 on the south side of Rimutaka Hill Road at Te Marua where NZTA said motorists should expect delays.
Police said motorists should avoid Te Horo Beach Road because of flooding, and use Te Hapua Road or Pukenamu Road to get to Te Horo Beach.
Police are asking motorists to avoid Te Horo Beach Road. Photo: Supplied / Police
MetService meteorologist Derek Holland said the rain would ease by tomorrow.
"The heaviest rain has been over central New Zealand with some heavy falls in Wellington causing some flooding issues and problems on the roads.
"We've had over 100 millimetres of rain recorded in the ranges and 50 or more in urban areas around Wellington."
Mr Holland said heavy rain warnings remain in place for the Tararua Ranges and Mt Taranaki.
Today's rain comes on top of heavy rain on Friday evening and early Saturday morning and people were advised that streams and rivers in the area were likely to continue rising today.
New weather Watches & Warnings issued for heavy rain for Saturday/Sunday. More details https://t.co/qHyE5zhh6X ^DH pic.twitter.com/jy3SV0zyvr
— MetService (@MetService) September 16, 2016
Heavy rain warnings that were in place for Westland, Buller and parts of Nelson and Malborough had since been lifted.
However, MetService was warning another burst of heavy rain was possible in the Marlborough Sounds.
And further periods of rain were expected in Wellington and the Wairarapa today through to Sunday, with heavy falls in the Aorangi Mountains and the coastal hills.
So no Hutt market, then. Fair enough. pic.twitter.com/PnHA2bbbBT
— Lyndon Hood (@lyndonhood) September 16, 2016
