The tropical depression, the tail-end of ex-Cyclone Cook which hit New Caledonia this week, has already generated offshore winds of more than 170 kmh.
Many schools and universities were shut down and the population was urged to cancel any potential trip. The Meteorological service issued severe weather warnings for the upper North Island and warned of landslides, flooding and wind damage from gusts of up to 140 kilometres (93.2 miles) per hour. Thousands of homes were left without power and two people were hospitalised after a tree hit their vehicle.
"The worst is over", meteorologist John Crouch announced as Cyclone Cook moved off New Zealand's south Island.
In flood-prone Flockton temporary pumps are being used and a close watch is being kept on water levels.
"We have also had reports about coastal inundation, which would back this up".
Hundreds of people in New Zealand have been evacuated from some coastal areas as the second major storm in just over a week made landfall near the North Island town of Whakatane.
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Nevertheless, the Waikato and Bay of Plenty face a clean-up.
Many people have been unable to return to their homes since then and authorities have been scrambling to shore up the breached levee.
The weekend opened with Hawke's Bay blessed by fine, fresh northerlies which brought mid-afternoon mid-20s temperatures, Hastings' peak of about 24 degrees likely to be the nationwide high for the day, in contrast to Napier and Hastings rainfall of about 25mm the previous day and the Thursday-night winds which peaked at more than 150km/h. Latest information at https://t.co/qHyE5zhh6X ^Lisa pic.twitter.com/YR8oTCuwDf- MetService (@MetService) April 13, 2017 "We're anxious", Tony Bonne, the mayor of Whakatane district, one of the areas expected to bear the brunt of the storm, said on local radio.
Gusts exceeding 200km/h were recorded on White Island.
The heaviest rain was around parts of the Gisborne ranges, where 100-130mm fell over an 18-hour period starting Thursday morning.
"But the greatest accomplishment was that people took heed, they battened down the hatches, brought their animals to safety and stayed indoors".
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