Organisers of Queenstown's rental housing protest are worried about the southerly blast that hit overnight, given the growing number of people living in cars and tents.
They say about 70 people attended the waterfront protest last night, demanding action on housing.
More than a quarter of the district's homes are vacant, and despite building enough new homes to theoretically meet demand - there are fewer rentals, and they are more expensive.
MetService has issued a heavy snow watch for the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago for today -- temperatures are currently sitting at 4-point-7 degrees in Queenstown, but the website says it feels like just minus-1.
The district's deputy mayor, Quentin Smith, spoke to Craig McCulloch.
