Road snow warnings have been issued for some southern roads, including Dunedin's Northern Motorway, as yet another round of severe weather bears down.
MetService says a "significant storm" is set to hit much of the country on the last day of the holiday weekend, bringing more heavy rain and strong winds to areas already hit hard in recent days.
The forecaster has issued a slew of severe weather alerts across both main islands, including an orange heavy snow warning for parts of Canterbury, and heavy rain warnings for parts of the upper South Island still recovering from widespread flooding last week.
MetService says the Lindis Pass (SH8) could get up to 15cm of snow, while much less is expected on the other roads.
The National Emergency Management Agency is urging the public to be extra vigilant owing to the forecast.
Nema Chief Executive said they were urging the public to take care on the roads when returning home from long weekend breaks.
"MetService have issued warnings for rain, wind and snow, and it's essential that people factor these into their travel plans," he said.
"Plan your journeys, pack extra supplies in case you get stranded, and if it's looking really hairy, consider delaying your travel if you can.
"Check for closures before you hit the road, be on the lookout for slips and debris, and never drive through floodwater."
Gawn said councils, Civil Defence, emergency services and government agencies were working together to coordinate resources and support the locally-led response efforts.
- Allied Media/additional reporting RNZ
