UPDATED 10.15am: Torrential rain has flooded campers at a DOC camping ground at Uretiti Beach south of Whangarei.
LISTEN ABOVE: Camper Stuart at Uretiti Beach speaks to Tim Dower
Camper Stuart told Tim Dower strong winds have also blown tent pegs out of the ground, causing chaos.
"It's just carnage, I woke up in a pool in the tent."
MORE: Severe weather watch in place for Upper North Island
He said the storm hit about 3 o'clock, and some people started battening down the hatches, "but it's all chaos here at the moment."
"There are some people who arrived yesterday, their tents are just rubble on the floor."
He said it was likely to cause campers to leave early, despite "a lot of people who wanted to be here to the third or fourth, that's what we were planning. But now it's home time."
Civil Defence is concerned for holiday makers in the Upper North Island.
A severe weather watch is in place.
Met Service said heavy rainfall and strong gales of up to 100km per hour are expected across the North Island, especially in Northland, Auckland, and the Coromandel Peninsula.
Northland Civil Defence spokesperson Shona Morgan said boaties need to check their moorings, and there's a chance of surface flooding and slips.
"If people are camping close to rivers or waterways they need to be really careful and just keep an eye on the situation."
Morgan said locals know how to deal with such weather - but people who aren't familiar with Northland's weather need to keep informed of any developments.
She's urging caution on the roads.
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