A heavy rain warning has been issued for Dunedin and the eastern parts of North Otago. A heavy rain warning has been lifted for the Bay of Plenty ranges east of Opotiki. "Rain is expected to become steady from mid-morning, and could be heavy at times," a MetService warning read. Heavy rain is set to hit much of the country today, causing slips and surface flooding, MetService warns. A severe weather warning had been issued for the Tararua Range and eastern Otago, and a severe weather watch has been issued for much of the country - including Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes bay, Taranaki, Whanganui, Wellington, Marlborough and Nelson.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 25, 2016 21:45 UTC