Another round of severe weather is forecast to hit today in both the North and South Islands, with travellers urged to "drive to the conditions" when heading home from the long weekend.
Yesterday, the forecaster said an active low pressure system would sweep over large areas of the country from this afternoon into Tuesday, bringing rain and severe gales just as holidaymakers were likely to be heading home.
A state of emergency remained in place for Southland, the Clutha District, and the Kaikōura District as nearly 15,000 properties in the lower South Island were without power following last week's weather event.
MetServivce meteorologist Katie Hillyer told 1News there would be "wet and windy conditions" across the country today.
Heavy snow, severe gales in 'significant' Labour Day storm - watch on TVNZ+
"Obvously that varies by how much depending on where you are, but the places that are looking the wettest are those sort of in the central, more western areas. Places like Buller and Grey, and the Western Ranges... as well as Waitomo, southern Waikato, through to Tongariro, as well as Taranaki National Park.
“So it's those, again, central, west, or western areas that are exposed to that heavy rain, as well as any mountainous areas through there.
On top of that, she said windy conditions were likely to batter the central parts of the country, similarly to last week’s wild weather event.
“It's actually more the eastern side, similar to last week, similar sort of reasoning with the northwesterlies coming down over the ranges and sort of accelerating.
Places like Wairarapa and the Tararua district have a strong wind warning out today and that picks up this afternoon, bringing some “severe gale northwesterlies”.
A strong wind watch was also in effect for Canterbury High Country and Marlborough, as well as for Banks Peninsula.
Hillyer said there was also a “plethora of road snow warnings that we've got out for a lot of the higher mountain roads in the South Island”.
"General advice with those is they can be obviously very disruptive to travel. So anyone travelling around for Labour Day in the South Island today should, you know, keep the journey planner page from NZTA app," she said.
NZTA issues warning to drivers
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) urged travellers through the Tararua district to "please take extra care as heavy rainfall and strong winds are set to batter the district".
Metservice has issued a heavy rain warning from 2pm today around the Tararua range – with between 120 and 150 mm of rainfall was expected and a strong wind warning was also in place for the district from 4pm today.
The warnings bring with them the potential for streams and river levels to rise; surface flooding and damage to trees.
"Please be extra careful if you’re in a high sided vehicle or on a motorcycle," said Liesl Dawson, System Manager for Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki.
"This is when the phrase 'drive to the conditions' is crucial," she said. "Take your time on the roads. And be alert for surface flooding or debris on the roads."
If you’re travelling today, consider adjusting your journey to avoid the heavy rain and strong winds forecast.
Full watches and warnings list
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Central North Island hill country from southern Waikato to Tongariro National Park – ten hours from 5pm today to 3am Tuesday.
Taranaki Maunga – 11 hours from 2pm today to 1am Tuesday.
The ranges of Grey and Buller, also Tasman west of Motueka – 13 hours from 8am to 9pm today.
Tararua Range – twelve hours from 2pm today to 2am Tuesday.
The Richmond and Bryant ranges, including the Rai Valley – ten hours from noon to 10pm today.
Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and north of Arthur's Pass/SH73 – twelve hours from 6am to 6pm today.
The ranges of the Westland District north of Haast – 20 hours from 10pm Sunday to 6pm today.
Heavy Snow Warning – Orange
Canterbury High Country south of SH73 – seven hours from 3pm to 10pm today.
Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Wairarapa and the Tararua District – nine hours from 4pm today to 1am Tuesday.
Wellington – eight hours from 3pm to 11pm today.
Heavy Rain Watch
The eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty – 14 hours from 6pm today to 8am Tuesday.
Strong Wind Watch
Hawke's Bay and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti, especially near the ranges – eight hours from 6pm today to 2am Tuesday.
South Taranaki across to Taihape, including inland Whanganui – seven hours from 3pm to 10pm today.
Marlborough about and north of Cape Campbell and Nelson/Tasman north of Kohatu – eight hours from 2pm to 10pm today.
Kapiti – six hours from 6pm to midnight today.
Canterbury High Country north of SH73, also Marlborough south of Cape Campbell – 21 hours from 8pm Sunday to 5pm today.
Canterbury High Country south of SH73 – ten hours from 8pm Sunday to 6am today.
Banks Peninsula – five hours from 6pm to 11pm today.
- Additional reporting by Haley Doig
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