The wild weather that has wreaked havoc in Otago is moving up the country, forcing the cancellation of Cook Strait ferry sailings and cutting power to hundreds.
However, the wintry blast is only slowly relaxing its grip on the South, and warnings are in place on many roads owing to strong winds and snow and ice.
Flights at Queenstown Airport were affected for much of the morning; services are returning to normal but delays can be expected, the airport advises.
- Check Queenstown flights here
Primary school buses were delayed, leading all Wakatipu schools to schedule an 11.45am opening.
Snow at The Remarkables has forced the Queenstown skifield to close for the day, while Coronet Peak road was closed for a time to clear up to 8km of traffic.
The wild weather forced the cancellation of Cook Strait ferry sailings, the crossing made too dangerous by monster swells.
The storm belted up the country overnight bringing hurricane force winds, cutting power to hundreds of homes and injuring at least two people after a tree came down on a car near Christchurch.
Roads
The New Zealand Transport Agency has the following warnings in place:
SH8 Cromwell to Omarama (Lindis Pass) - snow and ice, wind.
SH8 Roxburgh to Alexandra - wind.
SH87 Kyeburn to Outram - snow and ice.
SH85 Ranfurly to Palmerston, Omakau to Ranfurly - snow and ice.
SH6 Queenstown to Lumsden - SH6 is partly flooded at Diggers Creek Bridge covering both lanes.
- Check highway conditions here
Earlier story
Last night, severe gusts of up to 142kmh battered Otago, cutting power to 380 households and downing trees and powerlines across Dunedin.
In Central Otago gusts gave way to snow, with one Queenstown resident reporting snow falling in the township for the first time this year.
Snow was also reported to have settled in Arrowtown.
In Dunedin, a St John officer was treated for moderate injuries at Dunedin Public Hospital last night after the ambulance in which he was travelling left the road about 9.30pm after encountering ice on the Southern Motorway near Dunedin.
A St John spokesman said a non-emergency patient who was being transported by the ambulance was unharmed and was picked up by another ambulance.
MetService meteorologist Chelsea Glue said snow was expected down to 200m across Otago today.
The wild weather downed a tree on Lovelock Ave near the Opoho Rd intersection, briefly blocking the road.
A beech tree also fell on Great King St near the Dunedin Botanic Garden about 5pm, partially blocking the road.
Felled trees and powerlines were also reported on High St, Dunedin, and Doctors Point Rd, Waitati.
The wind also capsized a catamaran at Macandrew Bay.
Otago Peninsula community board member Lox Kellas said the mast of the catamaran appeared to be stuck in the mud of the shallow water. It was likely to be salvaged this morning.
Delta marketing and communications manager Gary Johnson said all power was restored to Aurora Energy customers on the peninsula from Harwood to Taiaroa Head by 5.30pm and to households in Broad Bay, Company Bay and Portobello by 9pm.
A New Zealand Fire Service spokeswoman said Dunedin fire crews attended eight callouts for downed trees and powerlines between 4pm and 9pm, however the impact had been minimal.
A police spokeswoman said police received reports of ''heavy squalls'' on SH1 between the Kilmog and Evansdale and drivers were advised to take extra care this morning.
Snow was visible on the Leith Saddle last night.
Ms Glue said blizzard-like conditions were likely to continue across the region until the weekend.
''Central Otago can expect negative temperatures overnight going into the weekend.
''This will likely bring frosts.''
In Christchurch two people were treated for moderate injuries after strong winds toppled a tree on their car, and thousands of homes in Canterbury remained without power late last night.
- additional reporting NZ Herald/Mountain Scene
