Wellington (dpa) - The second major storm in a week lashed New Zealand's North Island on Wednesday, with torrential rains bringing landslides and flooding that blocked highways while gale force winds toppled trees.

The Northland province was cut off from the rest of the country at one stage, and 250 millimetres of rain was recorded on the Coromandel peninsula.

Police advised motorists in Auckland, New Zealand's most populous region with more than 1 million people, not to travel unless they had to.

As the storm moved south, forecasters issued a severe weather warning for half the country, saying it was potentially destructive.

They said a huge low-pressure system over New Zealand was not expected to move away until the weekend at the earliest. (dpa)