A fallen tree closed SH60 south of Collingwood in Golden Bay for a period this morning. The highway has since reopened.
Radio New Zealand reported that thousands of homes across Wellington and the South Island are without power this morning.
Wellington Electricity reported outages for more than 1300 customers in the Naenae, Plimmerton, and Kaitoke areas. Further north Power Co said more than 200 homes are without power in Carterton, and 150 in Taihape.
In the South Island, Network Tasman has recorded 1300 unplanned outages and about 80 homes in the Wahapo area on the West Coast are without power, according to provider Westpower.
On the east coast, Orion says about 20 homes just out of Christchurch in the Little River area also have no power.