Winds gusting up to 120km/h howled through Hawke's Bay yesterday.
A weather watch was issued as a front, which brought heavy rain and severe northwest gales to other regions earlier in the week, moved over parts of the North Island.
MetService meteorologist Arno Dyason said gale winds up to 120km/h were experienced in parts of Hawke's Bay and Tararua District, easing late last night.
Wind gusts on the Takapau Plains reached 100km/h yesterday afternoon, while at Hawke's Bay Airport winds reached 87km/h at 7pm.
Last night Waipukurau volunteer fire brigade deputy chief Glen Millar said more callouts were expected last night.