KEY POINTS:
Interisland ferries are being delayed by swells of up to 6m on Cook Strait as a strong storm passes over the capital.
Passengers on the Interislander are all being advised of 90-minute delays to their sailing times.
Gusts of up to 130km/h have been battering the North Island since last night.
The MetService advises the worst of the winds are easing for Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula and Wellington, with severe weather warnings for those areas lifted.
However, a deep low has developed east of New Zealand, and severe gales affecting exposed coastal parts of Hawke's Bay are expected to spread to coastal Gisborne as far north as Tokomaru Bay this afternoon.
In these areas, south to southwest winds are likely to gust 130km/h in exposed places until late this afternoon.
The MetService warns the winds have the potential to damage trees and powerlines, lift insecure roofs, and make driving hazardous.
The winds are expected to ease this evening.
Police have warned motorists to take extreme care due to bad weather on State Highway 1 from Taihape through the Desert Road.
- NZPA
