Wild weather in Northland's causing treacherous driving conditions

Orange heavy rain warnings and severe thunderstorm watches apply to Northland, Auckland, and Bay of Plenty.

Rain warnings still cover the top of the South Island and parts of Westland.

Flooding's closed State Highway 11 at Kawakawa's Waikare Road - and State Highway One is under traffic management over the Brynderwyns because of a slip.

Mangawhai local, Mel Stewart, was heading south as the land moved.

She says she saw rubble, then an entire tree come down from the hill and onto the road.

Stewart says if she'd been driving faster, she'd have been hit.