Winds of up to 140 kilometres an hour have hammered Wellington on Saturday, lifting roofs, cutting power and disrupting flights.
Central Fire Communications shift manager Andrew Tollison said there had been 35 weather related call-outs in the capital.
“They’re mainly around Johnsonville, Kilbernie, Hataitai areas, and a couple of them are commercial buildings as well,” he said.
“Pretty much either power lines down or roofs lifting.”
Police were also kept busy with wind-related incidents.
Central Police Communications spokesman Chris Turner said the calls had died down after a particularly busy period between 10am and midday.
“We’ve had a number of power lines down round Wellington city which have caused us some issues, and where road works and cones are on the road it’s causing us huge problems, blowing all over the road.”
Motorists were being urged to avoid using the Rimutaka Hill Road between Upper Hutt and the Wairarapa.
Police had already dealt with one road crash on the hill, where it appeared a van had been tipped over by the strong winds, Tollison said.
Motorcyclists and drivers of high-sided vehicles were also warned to stay away from Wainuiomata Hill, where two vehicles were blown off the road earlier.
At Wellington airport, two flights had been cancelled, and there were several delays to arrivals and departures because of the weather.
Further south there were high wind warnings in Canterbury, especially in the Arthur’s and Lewis Passes, and police were urging care by drivers of trucks, motorcycles and campervans.
The Metservice said a southerly change was likely to sweep across the east of the South Island, bringing cold rain and snow.
Sunday was forecast to be fine.
