Severe weather warnings are set to come into place this weekend as Cyclone Vaianu bears down on the country.
Coromandel and parts of the Bay of Plenty are expected to be the worst-affected, though no part of the North Island will escape unscathed, forecasters warn.
The first warnings will be in effect from late Saturday night in Northland, before Vaianu makes its way south.
Most of the rain and winds will hit on Sunday, reaching the upper South Island by early afternoon.
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell says it will be a potentially significant and damaging storm, and Earth Sciences NZ predicted more than 200mm of rain could fall in some places across the upper North Island.
Aucklanders have been warned the Harbour Bridge might close due to strong winds.
FIFA World Cup qualifying matches due to be played in Hamilton on Sunday have been brought forward to Saturday to avoid the worst of it.
MetService spokesperson Heather Keats said gusts of 140 km/h were expected to hit the Coromandel, but there was also very strong background wind to come.
“Vaianu is going to be remembered for its wind, for its dangerous sea conditions.”
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