Winemakers, wedding celebrants and outdoor enthusiasts are rushing to rearrange plans for the weekend, with the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Lusi expected to bear down on the upper North Island.
Weather forecasters said the worst of the weather, destined for Northland, Auckland and Coromandel, will arrive overnight on Saturday.
The destructive weather pattern has prompted Civil Defence to warn people to remain indoors and prepare for the rough conditions.
Waiheke wedding celebrant Irene Armstrong had three outdoor weddings planned on the island this weekend. All three are being moved indoors, with one couple, hoping for a beach wedding, shifting venues to a private house.
"With the vineyards, they always have a back-up location. We always make it work," Ms Armstrong said.
"Everyone always has a back-up plan. We have to because the weather's so unpredictable, even in summer."