Strong winds have torn iron panels from the Southland District Council building in Invercargill and there are fears they could be blown on to the main street.
Two Fire and Emergency crews along with police assistance arrived at the scene on Forth St about 11.30am this morning.
NZTA say they have blocked off SH1 between Forth and Tyne Sts due to the risk from loose cladding.
"It is not clear how long this closure will be in place."
Fire and Emergency station officer Toby Pascoe said crews had attended multiple call-outs across Invercargill in the past 24 hours as a result of high wind gusts.
"What we’re concerned about here is the roofing coming of and going onto Dee St, and also the occupants.''
"We’re going to try and secure that loose iron either using our ladder truck or our internal crews and tie that down.''
The work was expected to be completed within the next half hour.
A Southland District Council spokeswoman said the building had not been evacuated, but was currently closed to the public.
