It's been a blustery night for the upper half of the North Island

MetService was recorded winds of 118 kilometres an hour in the Bay of Islands, 113 kilometres an hour in the Hauraki Gulf, and 90 kilometres an hour at Marsden Point near Whangarei.

Two boats are seeking shelter in the Hauraki Gulf after being caught out by strong winds overnight.

There's also been heavy rain between Hamilton and Northland, which is forecast to move to the Central Plateau during the day.

Nearly 73 millimetres was recorded at one weather station in Northland between midday yesterday and 5am today.