More than 700 people were evacuated from State Highway 5 between Taupo and Napier, and the Desert Road, on Sunday and Monday after they became stuck in metre-deep snow.
Yesterday 56 motorists from SH1 were ferried back to their vehicles and given a brief chance to leave Waiouru from 12.30pm, after the road was cleared.
But the road was closed again shortly after and remained closed today following another big snow dump overnight.
SH5 also remained closed today, but Civil Defence was still looking to return some drivers to their cars.
Civil Defence Taupo asked drivers to make their way to the Great Lake Centre by 9am today to be returned to their cars.
Weather permitting, they would begin transporting the drivers to the Rangitaiki area to pick up their cars, with the closest vehicles to be assessed first.
Meanwhile, roading authorities have defended their decision not to close the roads earlier.
New Zealand Transport Agency national state highways manager David Bates said road crews had been aware that snow was forecast fro the region, but were caught out when a large amount of snow fell in such a short time.
"It was a freak occurrence which was significantly worse than we anticipated for this time of year," he told The Dominion Post.
"We had the equipment and crews to keep the road open as long as we could but a massive temperature drop around 2pm swamped our trucks and equipment."
The icy blast cut power to about 400 rural properties between Hawke's Bay and Taupo, leaving farmers unable to milk cows.
The cold weather has also wiped out hundreds of newborn lambs in the central North Island and farmers have been urged to ensure lambs, and their mothers, had access to shelter.
MetService forecasters said light snow showers were expected in the area until this afternoon.
