Winter storm - 13 July 2017

Ohakune's town sign and famous carrot covered in snow after the mid-July storm swept through. Photo: Facebook / TCB Ohakune

Guests play in the snow outside a lodge near the Tongariro Crossing. Photo: Twitter / @LouisvanWyk

Strong waves batter the coast at Houghton Bay in Wellington on Thursday. Photo: RNZ / Caitlin Cherry

The police maritime unit took the opportunity to do rough weather training in Wellington Harbour on Wednesday. Photo: NZ Police

Snow in Manawatu cut power to thousands of homes on Thursday. Photo: Manawatu District Council

The start of the Desert Road at Waiouru was barely visible on Thursday. Photo: NZTA

The view from the train window on the Hutt Valley Line into Wellington. Photo: @kelvinking_nz

Waves at another stretch of Wellington's south coast on Thursday. Photo: Twitter / @FiNZ63

No surfers braved the waves at Lyall Bay, Wellington on Thursday. Photo: RNZ / Adriana Weber

Grey-out conditions on SH1, the coast road, near Paekakariki on Thursday. Photo: NZTA

Snow flurries continued overnight in Hanmer. Photo: @Deepsouthster

Snow in the Canterbury high country on Wednesday. Photo: Brando Yelavich @wildboy_adventures

The Hutt River was running high on Thursday. Photo: RNZ / Paloma Migone

Another shot of the swollen river, courtesy of RNZ's Wellington bureau chief. Photo: RNZ / Paloma Migone

The Waiau-Mt Lyford inland road in Canterbury was closed by snow. Photo: NZTA

Work under way to clear the inland road on Thursday. Photo: NZTA

Ohakune Railway Station. Photo: RNZ / Sharon Brettkelly

Snow in Ohakune. Photo: RNZ / Sharon Brettkelly

Police in the Manawatu town of Kimbolton have been cooking breakfast for snowed-in residents. Photo: Facebook / Manawatu District Council

Another shot of snow at Ohakune on Thurday. Photo: Facebook / TCB Ohakune

Kids play in the snow in Ohakune. Photo: RNZ / Sharon Brettkelly