SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGArea: Gore, Clutha and SouthlandAt 04:45 pm, MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near CATLINS STATE FOREST PARK, CLINTON and WAIPAHI moving southeast, expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain, large hail and frequent lightning. Meanwhile, holiday hotspots including Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua lie under a severe thunderstorm watch from 2pm to 8pm. MetService confirmed heavy rainfall has started in the Northland, Auckland and Waikato regions, with severe thunderstorm warnings still in effect. A heavy rain watch is in place for the Bay of Plenty to the east of Whakatāne from 7pm, with a risk the rainfall might upgrade to a warning near the ranges. While the West Coast of the South Island might be having an unexpectedly fine start to 2026, the rest of the country faces erratic forecasts.

Source: New Zealand Herald December 25, 2025 21:33 UTC