An early spring cold snap has played havoc with roads, closed schools and cut power around the country.
Here's what you need to know.
Roads
The following roads are closed due to snow or ice:
- Porters Pass (State Highway 73) between Springfield and Arthurs Pass
- Arthur's Pass (State Highway 73) between Arthur's Pass and Otira
- Lewis Pass (State Highway 7) between Hanmer turn-off and Springs Junction
- Rimutaka Hill Road (State Highway 2) between Upper Hutt and Featherston
Restrictions and warnings are in place for the following roads:
- State Highway 7 between Springs Junction and Reefton - closed to towing vehicles, chains essential for everyone else
- State Highway 87 between Kyeburn and Outram - closed to towing vehicles
- State Highway 6 between Queenstown and Lumsden - partly flooded at Diggers Creek Bridge, drivers should take care
Other transport
Bluebridge and Interislander have cancelled all of their Cook Strait sailings today because of severe weather and rough sea conditions.
An Interislander spokesman said a decision about tomorrow's sailings would be made this afternoon.
Wellington East By West harbour ferry crossings between Days Bay and Queens Wharf have been cancelled this morning and are being replaced with shuttle buses.
Some flights in and out of Queenstown, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington and Palmerston North airports have either been delayed or cancelled.
Power
Orion said power was cut to about 3000 households and businesses overnight in Canterbury. Selwyn and Banks Peninsula had been hardest hit.
Chief executive Rob Jamieson said the cuts were scattered across the network and would take some time to find and fix.
Power was also out in parts of Manawatu and the Wairarapa, including in Hawera, Palmerston North, Eketahuna, Masterton and Martinborough.
Schools
All schools in Queenstown will open late. Most are expecting to open by midday but parents should contact their chidlren's school to confirm start times.
