Flooding in Nelson on Monday. Photo: Supplied / Valeriya Horyayeva
Rain and wind have swept through both the North and South Islands, but another wet front is on the way.
In the upper South Island, State Highway 6 through Lower Buller Gorge between Inangahua Junction and Westport remains closed.
Heavy rain caused multiple slips and surface flooding on the highway on Monday and on Sunday.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and delay their journey if possible.
Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine told Morning Report stormwater flooding was the new normal in the region, with the short and sharp rain causing the issues.
"For example Westport yesterday morning between about 6am and 8am received about 45mm of rain over that 2 hour period, so just over comes and inundates any sort of storm water system when those intensities occur."
Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine. Photo: RNZ / Nate Mckinnon
He said the West Coast was traditionally able to cope with a fair amount of rain, but the more "frequent intense weather events" put infrastructure to the test.
"And we seem to be seeing more of those, so its concerning, and quite an adjustment to asset managers and people like myself and our communities as well."
He said they were working towards long-term flooding fixes but it would take some time.
Cleine also said they would get an update on SH6 later on Tuesday.
In Auckland, power has been restored in Dairy Flat, after strong winds and heavy rain also hit the city overnight.
Vector said it had been working to restore power after a power pole was damaged by flying debris and vegetation on Monday evening.
Fire and Emergency crews were also out in Auckland last night, clearing damaged trees and power lines.
But the Fire Service said there had not been any weather-related calls on Tuesday morning.
Northland Civil Defence also said no problems had been reported.
MetService lifted all the weather warnings and watches after Monday's deluge.
Duty forecaster John Law told Morning Report the rain was clearing, but it wouldn't last long.
"Another area of low pressure runs closer towards us on Wednesday, brings with it some heavy rainfall for places like the western coast of the South Island, parts of Nelson, Tasman and Buller," he said.
"You will find that wet weather and windy weather move back towards those western parts of the North Island, so well worth keeping an eye on the forecast - particularly Wednesday and Thursday."
Law said Nelson's flooding on Monday was likely because the area was hit with intense bursts of rainfall.
"Places like Nelson saw as much as 30-40mm of rain in a very short space of time and it's that intensity in that short course of time that caused most of the issues there."
When asked why there wasn't any warning about Monday's weather, he said the forecast was "always a tricky story" and occasionally didn't always go to plan.
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith. Photo: LDR/Max Frethey
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith told Morning Report the "torrential down pour" put Nelson's systems under "enormous pressure".
"Ironically it's in the area which our council is doing an enormous investment upgrade - $78 million - in the lower part of the city and the storm just further highlighted the vulnerability of that area."
He said he knew of several properties that had been flooded.
"There's no question that yesterday's events is a reminder of the importance of those investments."
He also said a real vulnerable for Nelson and Tasman was the rain radar.
"The closest rain radar is in Wellington, its shadowed by the main range and as a consequence it traps us quite nastily."
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