The Tauranga City Council is advising people to tie down loose articles of property including garden furniture owing to the high winds and wet weekend ahead.

The council is also asking people to ensure all drainage and catch pits are free of leaf debris.

A New Zealand MetService severe weather warning is in place for the Bay of Plenty and much of the North Island – read more here.

The high winds on Thursday are expected to be just a precursor to what is coming this weekend. This photo taken by Oliver Pasquale is of a tree torn down by the wind on Thursday at Holcombrooke Lane Reserve in Welcome Bay.