Rain is falling in parched areas of the South Island which need it the most, but central New Zealand is in line for a battering.
Nelson escaped any new problems from heavy rain overnight, just weeks after being hammered by the worst flooding in decades.
However, northwest Nelson and Buller are in for bursts of rain and thunderstorms today and rain is currently falling in areas from Invercargill to Queenstown.
Bob McDavitt from MetService says there's some relief in hand for some of the driest areas of the lower South Island.
"It's falling not 100 percent all over the place, but certainly in blobs," he says.
"One of the biggest blobs is sort of stretching from Invercargill through to the Queenstown area."
And Southland farmers who've been struggling with near-drought conditions, are happy with the situation.
After rain fell at a steady rate overnight, another 50mm is forecast for today.
Russell Macpherson, from Federated Farmers, says the rain is a great start to breaking the dry spell.
"Everybody will be waking up this morning feeling really great," he says.
"They'll be just about bloody outside and playing in the rain."
Meanwhile, a severe gale warning's been issued for central New Zealand from Manawatu through to Marborough and North Canterbury.
Winds gusts could reach 140km/h this morning in exposed areas.
3 News / RadioLIVE