Bus services have resumed normal operation in Dunedin and flights are now operating to schedule at the city's airport after icy conditions caused major disruptions this morning.
Cautions remain in place on many southern roads, and flights are still affected at Queenstown Airport after the icy start, following a wintry blast which slammed the region over the weekend.
The slippery conditions also prompted several school closures in Dunedin, and a delayed 10am start for many other pupils.
The Otago Regional Council advised around 12.30pm that bus services in the city were operating to normal routes and times after services to the hill suburbs were severly affected this morning.
Roads
The Northern Motorway out of Dunedin was closed for several hours this morning - it has reopened, but drivers are urged to take care. The New Zealand Transport Agency has cautions for other stretches of State Highway 1, from Glenavy in North Otago to Gore in Southland.
- Check highway conditions here
Cautions are also in place for SH88 Dunedin-Port Chalmers, SH 87 Outram-Kyeburn, SH8 Raes Junction to Milton, SH90 Raes Junction-McNab and SH80 Aoraki Mount Cook-Twizel.
Flights
There are still delays at Queenstown airport - check flight status here
Earlier story: mayhem on roads
Eleven people were injured on Otago roads during the weekend after ice and snow created treacherous driving conditions.
Four people were injured in a crash near Evansdale, north of Dunedin, when the driver of a car lost control on ice, hit another vehicle and plunged 75m over a bank.
One person suffered serious injuries to his legs and hip and had to be cut from the vehicle after the crash shortly before midnight on Saturday. Three others were moderately injured.
A St John spokesman said the seriously injured patient was taken to Dunedin Hospital by helicopter and the others were taken by ambulance.
State Highway 1 was closed north of Palmerston after a serious crash earlier on Saturday in which seven people were injured, two seriously, when a people mover rolled. Acting Senior Sergeant James Ure said ice and snow had caused several other crashes in Otago and Southland.
A car ''slid off'' Portobello Rd, near the intersection with Castlewood Rd, and crashed into the harbour yesterday afternoon.
The sole occupant of the car was shaken but otherwise uninjured in the crash, he said. The car was recovered from the harbour about 3pm.
Mt Grand Rd, in Brockville, was closed yesterday because of the dangerous driving conditions. car carrying three people slid on ice and hit another car which was performing a U turn at the time of the crash, acting Snr Sgt Ure said.
The other car had four occupants, including a child. No one was injured. MetService meteorologist Stephen Glassey said snow was reported throughout much of Otago, with 1cm settling in Naseby and 3cm in Clinton.
Dunedin's hill suburbs were also blanketed by snow.
Near freezing temperatures were also reported around the region, with Oamaru, Alexandra and Wanaka recording lows of 2degC, he said.
While freezing temperatures were forecast to persist this week, the worst of the wintry blast had passed.
''The worst of the snow is over,'' Mr Glassey said.
''But there is a good chance of black ice.''
Power outage
Hundreds of people were left without power for almost an hour in Dunedin yesterday.
Homes and businesses in Abbotsford, Fairfield, Green Island, Oceanview, Waldronville, Burnside, Sunnyvale, Caversham and Concord were without power from 2.30pm after a power trip, Delta spokesman Gary Johnson said.
The number of users affected was unknown.
Power was restored just before 3.30pm.
Flights affected
Snow caused delays and cancellations at Queenstown Airport during the weekend. while the ''Clash of the Tasman'' amateur boxing event on Saturday night was also disrupted.
Event organiser Stewart Mitchell said one boxer from Christchurch had to pull out as his flight was cancelled.
''Some of the Australians had a bit of a nightmare getting here, a 30 hour round trip.
''We also didn't know if the ring would arrive as it had to come up from Invercargill,'' Mr Mitchell said.
Several minor traffic accidents were reported on the roads. No major injuries were reported.
In Central Otago most of Sunday morning's snow thawed by noon.
Several snow showers followed throughout the afternoon with sunny spells breaking through.
North Otago escaped most of the bad weather over the weekend, although some snow settled inland from Duntroon on Saturday.
Oamaru received only sleety showers on Sunday morning.
