Wind, snow, rain and swells pound North Island amid severe weather warnings

Severe weather - including gale-force winds, snow, heavy rain and high swells - has battered the North Island, leading to fallen trees, slips, power cuts, grounded flights and emergency callouts.

Severe weather warnings and watches were in place across the country, with torrential downpours and high winds expected until Saturday morning.

MetService meteorologist Braydon White said blusterly southerlies and rain made for "not a very nice wintery day", but the worst of the winds appeared to have passed.

He added winds would ease slowly and that caution was still necessary.

Winds of more than 150km/h were recorded at Wellington's Mt Kaukau and Marlborough's Brothers Island.

Beach House cafe owner Max Gnojczak said he didn't want his customers to put themselves at risk by coming out to the eatery.

"We know it's the south coast, it's Wellington, it's not the first year it happens and it's not the last year it's going to happen."

Transport

As a result of strong winds, most flights in and out of Wellington Airport were cancelled.

Most flights Friday evening were also likely to be cancelled, said a spokesperson for Wellington Airport. He estimated that about 200 flights would be affected.

"The winds are forecast to ease tomorrow, which hopefully will allow flights to resume."

He advised passengers to check with their airlines for information on specific flights

Hamish Ewen and his family were travelling to London, but had to reschedule their flights,

He said he was "gutted" to have to cut his trip shorter by two days, because of the delays,

Fellow traveller Jack, who was due to fly to Auckland from Wellington on Friday morning, said he'd become used to these weather events.

He said the weather was "pretty horrible" and he was at a bit of a stalemate, but his fingers were crossed.

"I'm feeling nervous on what's going to be coming, By the sound of it, we're going to have to take a bus to Auckland."

As for roads, NZTA advised drivers to take extreme care on State Highways 1 and 2 near Wellington.

The lefthand lanes of SH1 were closed, after being affected by waves and spray from the harbour.

The Ngauranga-to-Petone shared path was closed to cyclists.

Ferry sailings were cancelled for the day.

Utilities

Overnight, Fire and Emergency responded to about 20 weather-related callouts.

More than 7,000 customers in the lower North Island were still without power.

A total of 5,280 properties on the Powerco network were cut off - including more than 3,000 customers in Taranaki, and more than 1,300 in Whanganui.

Smaller groups of outages remain in Manawatū and Wairarapa.

In Wellington, 1,789 properties were without power - including 900 households in Naenae in Lower Hutt.

Power outages led to an evacuation at Walter Nash Stadium in Lower Hutt, where about 5000 school children and supporters were left in the dark during the Pasifika showcase HuttFest.

Parent and RNZ producer Jacob McSweeny said a big screen and the main lights suddenly went out, but there were a few little lights around the side.

"You could hear whispers, everyone saying, 'What's happened, what's happened?'," he said.

"I got out of my car, and it was one of those instances where you open the door and the wind rips the door out of your hand.... the weather was already apocalyptic."

One school soldiered on and performed with the power out, but it became clear that the outage would not be resolved quickly and the event was called off.

Raw sewage was being discharged close to the shoreline in southern Wellington afer the heavy rainfall.

Residents of Ōwhiro Bay and Breaker Bay are advised to stay out of the water for the next 48 hours.

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