Forecasters warn more flash flooding and slips are likely as a second band of torrential rain lashes the North Island.
The heavy rain has already forced the closure of some roads and state highways in Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty.
The downpours eased during the middle of the day, but a second band of torrential rain returned to eastern Coromandel and western Bay of Plenty this afternoon.
WeatherWatch forecasters said the rain could linger until early evening, making further flash flooding and slips highly likely. Powercuts may also occur due to slips.
Conditions were expected to ease this evening, but further heavy showers were possible overnight and to a lesser degree tomorrow.
MetService severe weather warnings remain in place for Northland, Auckland, the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa.
The New Zealand Transport Agency said a slip had blocked State Highway 2 at Athenree Gorge, 48km northwest of Tauranga, while flooding closed the Karangahake Gorge between Waihi and Paeroa.
Flooding had also closed SH26 between Morrinsville and Paeroa.
The floodgates were up at Criterion Bridge, south of Paeroa, while flooding has closed SH26 between Paeroa and Te Aroha.
Motorists have been advised to take extreme care and travel only if necessary.
In Bay of Plenty, rescuers braved high winds and driving rain to fly a pig hunter out of the Lake Rotomahana area.
The 42-year-old Rerewhakaaitu man was reported missing after becoming separated from his hunting party in heavy rain yesterday.
Police searchers found him, suffering from hypothermia, in an area above bluffs at 10.15am today.
He was evacuated by helicopter and recovering in Rotorua Hospital.
"This was particularly challenging as the weather conditions were dreadful, with winds and driving rain, and the location of the hunter on the mountain was just below the cloud base," police said.
The Thames Coromandel District Council is monitoring flooding after up to 200mm of rain has fallen over the past day.
It said the fords at Kauaeranga Valley Rd, Old Maratoto Rd and Wires Rd were impassable due to flooding.
Flooding had closed Wentworth Valley Rd, School Rd, and Settlement Rd, while the Tapu-Coroglen Rd was down to one lane in places due to slips.
Farmers have been advised to move stock to higher ground if necessary, and all residents were urged to stay up to date on river levels.
The council said there was potential for flood plains to be inundated, causing general surface flooding and disruption to transport around the region.
Authorities were keeping in touch with other agencies over any flood response.
"It looks as though we're in for a few very wet days on top of what has already been a very wet July, so please be careful and don't take risks where you know it can typically get dangerous," the council said.
"If you see signs warning you not to drive into certain areas due to flooding, please take the advice. Last year, too many people tried and failed and turned their motorhomes and other vehicles into temporary submarines."
A Bay of Plenty Regional Council spokeswoman said there were no reports of flooding issues but they were monitoring river levels.
WeatherWatch said the large sub-tropical low bringing the bad weather would cross the upper North Island over the next day or two as it slowly fizzled out.
The low would be followed by a large high that would bring sunnier and drier weather across New Zealand, with conditions improving in most places on Wednesday and Thursday.
WeatherWatch said the weather would mostly be settled by Thursday through to Saturday.
There could be some showers around East Cape, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay on Thursday, possibly lingering around Gisborne on Friday, and light rain and showers on the South Island's east coast on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Rain was expected to turn to snow above 500m around Christchurch on Wednesday, with sunnier weather returning on Thursday.
Temperatures in the North Island were expected to remain above average for the rest of July.
- By Hayden Donnell, the NZ Herald
