Photo: Unsplash / Erik Witsoe
The bad weather has spread north, with thunderstorm warnings in the eastern North Island cancelled but new ones in place for the Far North.
MetService early on Saturday afternoon issued a thunderstorm warning for Whangarei, saying it had detected "severe" storms near Bream Head, Pataua, Taiharuru, Opahi, Purua and Hikurangi.
They were expected to be "accompanied by torrential rain and large hail".
A severe thunderstorm watch remained in place for Coromandel, Auckl
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