Another front is this evening racing up the country from the south west.

As of 5:30pm heavy rain and showers were spreading into Taranaki with the active band moving into Waikato, Auckland and Northland after dark.

Winds gusting between 50 and 80km/h have developed this afternoon in Auckland.

Strong nor westerlies gusting to 80km/h are also affecting Taranaki with gusty conditions in the Capital also reaching similar speeds.

Conditions are a little calmer in the South Island although westerlies gusting to 80km/h are also affecting exposed parts of the West Coast and up to 65km/h across Southland.