Part of State Highway 3 through the Awakino Gorge is closed this morning following "some fresh land movement overnight", as snow falls on roads across the South Island.
The road closure followed yesterday's heavy rain and gales across the North Island.
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said a barrier which was designed to catch any debris safely caught that material, which now needed to be cleared out following the slip.
"A geotechnical site assessment will then be carried out before the road can safely be reopened," an NZTA spokesperson said.
"Crews will be working this morning to clear that material from behind the barrier, to restore access as quickly as possible."
NZTA did not give an estimate of when this section of road would be reopened.
It followed "a very wet, windy day" across the motu, prompting watches and warnings to be issued by MetService.
Previous orange heavy rain warnings have since expired for the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty west of Kawerau and inland parts of the Tasman District west of Motueka this morning.
Wellington, Marlborough east of Seddon and the Marlborough Sounds remained under an orange strong wind warning into Friday.
MetService meteorologist Heather Keats said despite warnings and watches expiring, things were still "looking pretty messy" as a deep low moves over the North Island.
"It is looking pretty messy, with Wellington and parts of Marlborough expecting southerly gales gusting 120km/h from tonight, and strong wind watches also scattered across the country."
Road warnings for snow and ice
This morning, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said contractors were out to inspect highways where snow or ice was present, and to lay grit across several areas where warnings were issued.
These included:
- State Highway 6 Wanaka to Haast
- State Highway 8 Omarama to Tarras (Lindis Pass)
- State Highway 6 Cromwell to Gibbston (Kawarau Gorge)
- State Highway 85 Ranfurly to Omakau
- State Highway 94 Centre Hill, between Mavora Lakes Road and Centre Hill Road intersections
- State Highway 6 Parawa, between Bixter Road and Parawa Station Road intersections
"Road users are urged to take extra care travelling on state highways today, especially those at higher elevations," NZTA said.
Keats said "a strong and cold southerly flow" was influencing the South Island, and that rain would ease in the lower South today.
Current watches and warnings
Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Wellington, also Marlborough east of Seddon and the Marlborough Sounds – 22 hours from 8pm today to 6pm Friday.
Strong Wind Watch
Northland north of Whangārei– 12 hours from 6am to 6pm today.
Taranaki – 23 hours from 7pm today to 6pm Friday.
Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast – 20 hours from 7pm today to 3pm Friday.
Buller, Grey, and Westland Districts – 23 hours from 1pm Today to noon Friday.
Road Snowfall Warnings
Lewis Pass (SH7) – 27 hours from 3am today to 6am Friday.
Arthur's Pass (SH73) – eight hours from midnight Wednesday to 8am today.
Porters Pass (SH73) – 24 hours from 11pm Wednesday to 11pm today.
Lindis Pass (SH8) – five hours from 6am to 11am today.
Crown Range Road – seven hours from 5am to noon today.
Milford Road (SH94) – five hours from 3am to 8am today.
Heavy Swell Warnings
Wellington – Cape Terawhiti to Turakirae Head – 15 hours from 3am to 6pm Friday.
Wairarapa – Turakirae Head to Flat Point – 15 hours from 3am to 6pm Friday.
The morning headlines including an unwelcome passenger hitches a ride on a prison van… a plan to rescue crew stranded in the strait of Hormuz.. and a baby goat named after the football goat Lionel Messi. (Source: 1News)
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