NEMA is warning people in large swathes of the North Island to prepare for bad weather overnight

Waipa, Otorohanga and the entire Horizon District have declared a State of Emergency.

Weather warnings and watches are splattered across the central North Island and parts of the South Island.

The areas most at risk are the Manawatu, Rangitikei and Ruapehu Districts - which are under a heavy red rain warning.

There will be no regional flights in or out of Wellington because of high winds, and State Highway two has been closed between Gisborne and Wairoa.

More than 2 thousand households are without power in the Wellington region.