Severe rain warnings are in place for the lower North Island and west of the South Island, with severe wind watches also in place and thunderstorms possible for much of the country.
A woman clung to a cow that swam her to safety as floodwaters rapidly rose. The story of Cow 569 became an enduring tale of survival from the lower North Island floods of February 2004. There was record rain and destruction, but the storm was also the catalyst to do better. Jimmy Ellingham reports.