Wild weather wreaks havoc

Wild weather shunting up the east coast brought gale-force winds and plunging temperatures this afternoon, catching out tourists in Kaikoura and boaties around Wellington.

Wind gusts of nearly 150kmh were recorded on Mt Kaukau, and the temperature dropped from 19.9degC to 9degC when the "aggressive" southerly front reached Wellington late this afternoon, weather analyst Philip Duncan said.

Winds were gusting over 120kmh elsewhere in the city, causing damage to roofs and powerlines, and bringing hail.

Earlier, the wild weather hit Kaikoura, where southerlies gusted to 115kmh and the temperature plunged to 7degC.

No cancellations were expected for the Cook Strait ferry, although a tug was being used to manoeuver the vessels in Wellington harbour as a precaution, an Interislander spokesman said.

In Wellington, power lines were down, trees were blown over and there were reports of roofs lifting.

Power lines also came down in Masterton, trapping a car.

Boaties caught out by the sudden storm included a kayaker and several runabouts in Wellington Harbour, Inspector Ian Harris said.

There was also a report of a waka in trouble on Porirua Harbour.

The police launch was called out to rescue the kayaker about 4.30pm near Oriental Bay, and was still searching early this evening, although it was possible the person had made it to safety, Mr Harris said.

A group of nine American tourists had been reportedly trapped out on a walkway in Kaikoura.

A teenage boy injured after being trapped by a tree branch in Rarangi, near Blenheim, was flown to Wairau Hospital with lower leg and suspected neck or spinal injuries.