![\"MetService](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/metservice-warnings-and-watches-as-of-10am-on-december-29-20-JNDPE7CRUNE6PPDPMS6WQQH2RE.png\")
<\/p>\n2025 is set to go out with a bang as an active low-pressure system crosses the country, upgrading weather alerts from watches to warnings and no doubt disrupting many Kiwis’ summer plans.<\/p>\n
Most of the North Island and the top of the South Island are under orange heavy rain and strong wind warnings for the final few days of the year, with a mix of wind, rain, thunderstorms and cooler temperatures for many areas.<\/p>\n
Do you have any photos\/videos of the weather? Email news@tvnz.co.nz<\/p>\n
MetService meteorologist Katie Lyons said while there was plenty to keep an eye on, there were also likely to be breaks for some parts of the country.<\/p>\n
A rainband moving south was bringing soggy conditions to the upper North Island today, Lyons said.<\/p>\n
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MetService warnings and watches as of 10am on December 29, 2025. (Source: MetService)<\/p>\n
The Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne\/Tair\u0101whiti and Hawke’s Bay were currently receiving the “most intense and persistent” deluge, with orange heavy rain warnings continuing through until Tuesday for some regions,” she added.<\/p>\n
“Early in the\u202fevent, ranges in the Coromandel region\u202fare\u202falready seeing\u202fover 40mm\u202fof rain, with 20mm\u202ftoward the towns.\u202fIt’s\u202funfortunate weather to hit such popular camping spots and the festival goers in the Gisborne\/Tair\u0101whiti\u202fregion.”<\/p>\n
Heavy rain watches were issued for the Bay of Plenty west of Rotorua, the Tararua District and Wairarapa, the Kaikoura Coast.<\/p>\n
Gale southeasterlies were also spreading across the North Island and northwest of the South Island, bringing orange strong wind warnings into effect in the Coromandel, Waikato to Taranaki and Taihape, and Manawatu south to Kapiti.<\/p>\n
In the South Island, the gales would accelerate up and over the ranges, bringing big gusts to Buller, Grey and northern Westland from 10pm tonight through until 2pm on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Many other areas across the North Island were under strong wind watches, including Auckland and Wellington.<\/p>\n
Lyons said winds were expected to be strongest in exposed areas.<\/p>\n
“However,\u202fit\u2019s\u202fa different direction than we are used\u202fto, so those that usually feel sheltered might catch the\u202fstrong winds\u202ftoday. High sided vehicles, for example campervans, should be extra mindful.”<\/p>\n
The driest place to ring in the New Year was appearing to be the far south of the country, while the rainiest was western central New Zealand, she said.<\/p>\n
“The beauty of showers is that they might give us a few gaps to celebrate the years end outside.\u202f<\/p>\n