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State Highway 1 south of Kaikōura is likely to remain closed until early next week.
NZTA confirmed in an update tonight contractors would be working through the long holiday weekend to get the highway open as soon as possible.
However, the scale of the road damage from flooding meant that was unlikely to be until early next week, the update said.
The road could be used as far north as Cheviot, but longer alternative routes were required to reach Kaikōura.
SH 1 north of Kaikōura reopened yesterday, although some traffic management and reduced speed limits remain.
"We appreciate that it being school holidays and a long holiday weekend, people will be travelling around the South Island to connect with family and friends, or experience some of the snow that’s fallen in the last few days," NZTA maintenance and operations regional manager Peter Brown said.
"We do ask that people travelling on the state highways plan ahead by checking for any closures or travel restrictions, such as the current closure south of Kaikoura on SH1, or any forecast weather that could bring fresh disruptions.
"As people will have seen, there has been a lot of weather impacts on the highway network recently, and there may be more in store for Otago and the Mackenzie Basin as melted snow and surface water turn to ice in the freezing conditions tonight and over the next few days.
"People can avoid the most treacherous ice conditions on the roads by travelling in the middle of the day. If the weather closes in again and there is more snow or heavy rain, people need to drive to the conditions: adjusting their speeds and travelling distances, avoiding sudden braking, and staying visible [using headlights in daytime hours]. People should also avoid driving through floodwaters where the depth is unclear and there may be hidden obstructions.
"It’s also sensible to be prepared with warm clothing, food and water in case people become stranded, delayed or detoured because of road closures."
Work under way
Work began this morning to repair and make SH 1 south of Kaikōura safe after severe flooding and road damage in the past few days.
As of midday Thursday the area was still in a state of emergency after days of heavy rain inundated the upper South Island.
SH1 is closed from Cheviot to Kaikōura, and the Inland Route 70/Inland Kaikōura Road is also closed.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says people can travel as far north as Cheviot on SH1, but to travel to Kaikōura and further north, the longer inland route via State Highways 7, 65, 6 and 63 will be required.
A ‘soft checkpoint’ at Waipara is advising people of the limits of travel via SH1.
The highway reopened between Kaikōura and Ward yesterday afternoon and remains open with some traffic management and reduced speed limits.
NZTA said it was likely to be "a couple of days" before the highway south of Kaikōura could reopen, meaning the closure will continue into the long holiday weekend.
Other South Island highways hit by the wild weather have been reopening today.
SH8 between Fairlie and Twizel in the Mackenzie Basin is now open again to traffic after closures due to snow and ice, but travel is being coordinated by convoy because of the icy conditions.
People travelling this route are asked to travel with extreme care, with potential for all or part of this section of highway to close again if the conditions require it.
SH85 and SH87 also reopened this morning.
SH83 is open between Pukeuri and Kurow after a flooding closure, but with a 30kmh temporary speed limit in place.
The worst of the weather is now in the North Island, and some Bluebridge ferries across Cook Strait have been cancelled today due to high swells.
Wellington is under a strong wind watch until 6pm,, with the southerly weather system affecting the strait.
Bluebridge has cancelled four sailings for passengers through to this afternoon.
Homes assessed in Kaikōura
Kaikōura District Council says it will continue assessing flood-damaged properties today as residents wait to find out if they can go home.
A state of emergency remains in place after about 150 people evacuated their homes when heavy rainfall caused rivers to burst their banks.
Numbers in the evacuation centre have dwindled, with Takahanga Marae expecting the final 11 people to leave this morning.
Mayor Craig Mackle says staff are assessing homes - and a couple have already been yellow stickered.
"The number 14 has been brought up that probably need really good assessing, some have been surprised that they've been told they've been inundated and they weren't, and others yeah you can see in places smells pretty bad, carpets are all wet and in the walls and stuff."
Mackle says there is a lot to be fixed and Kaikōura remains in response mode, rather than recovery.
