By Laura Frykberg
Wild weather has disrupted party plans for thousands in the North Island tonight, but in the South Island, conditions are perfect for New Year's celebrations.
Landslips have closed roads in the Bay Of Plenty, while a car has been swept away by a surging river near Whangamata.
Bad weather has forced Wellington's New Year's festivities on the waterfront to be cancelled.
Wellington City Council says the weather is showing no signs of improvement, and the advice is stay indoors for a quieter end to 2011.
Staying dry in a city notorious for its wind is never easy. Wellington has experienced torrential rain over the past two days, forcing most indoors.
Even the staunchest revellers at the Beyond The Black heavy metal festival had to change their plans.
"The weather has prevented us from having our campground outside," the organiser told 3 News.
The MetService says very different temperatures at either end of the country can create thunderstorms in the middle.
"We've got very warm subtropical air across the Far North, and much cooler air further south," says Daniel Corbett. "In between we've got one area of very heavy, persistent rain affecting the lower North Island."
Not that partygoers at Wairarapa's La De Da festival seemed to mind.
"They're dancing around in a bit of mud, they have their shoes and socks off and everyone seems to be having a good time," says organiser Josh Mossman.
This time of year normally sees surfers flock to New Plymouth, but due to the weather it seems surfing isn't the sport of choice this year.
Elsewhere, there was a close call for two holidaymakers in the Coromandel when their van was washed into a fast-rising stream as they tried to drive through a fiord.
The heavy rain also caused landslips and flooding on roads around the Coromandel and Bay Of Plenty.
While it's no longer Nelson being battered by the wet weather many have packed up their camps, deciding it's better safe than sorry, advice the MetService says other campers further north should also consider
The bad weather is unlikely to ease for the next 24 to 36 hours, so for those still thinking of camping they might want to postpone it until Tuesday when apparently we'll see some sunshine.
3 News