Auckland homes left without power after a violent storm overnight have been reconnected but forecasters have warned more bad weather is on the way and due to hit the country on Tuesday.
The severe gale-force winds which ripped through Otago yesterday, toppling vehicles and trees, disrupting power supplies, dislodging roofing and interrupting air travel, have abated.
Chilly Kiwis fed up with winter's icy temperatures can put their woollies away for a while, as forecasters are predicting a respite from the cold weather.
Flooded highways have cut Dunedin off from the north and civil defence authorities say homes in the Waitaki may have to be evacuated with rivers running at record highs.
The cold snap has yet to fully release its grip on the South and numerous roads are still closed owing to the pummelling the region took over the last few days.
Flooded roads remain closed today as the eastern North Island continues to be hammered by heavy rain, but residents elsewhere are in for a brief respite today.
A "bone-chilling" weekend is in store for northern New Zealand, MetService warns, as parts of the North Island cope with flooding and rising rivers today.