KEY POINTS:
Central Hawke's Bay fire officers are relieved they escaped major property damage after high winds, which had earlier lashed the South Island, buffeted the area overnight.
Dannevirke chief fire officer Mike Finucane said the service had four callouts that started at 10.28pm and continued through the night.
The first two calls involved wind lifting roofs in the town.
The department was also called after train barrier arms were blown onto the street.
The final call was to clear away a garden shed that had been blown over a fence and onto the road.
"The winds were really severe. We were lucky to have got away so lightly," Mr Finucane said.
Yesterday high winds kept Canterbury police and fire officers frantic with five trees coming down within two hours, a caravan was flipped and a roof was blown away.
The MetService has warned gale force winds are going to continue until tomorrow morning in the lower half of the North Island.
North westerly winds were forecast to reach severe gale force in exposed parts of Wellington and Wairarapa tonight.
The winds were expected to reach 120km/h.
Areas south of Hastings were expected to be hit by westerly winds with gusts also reaching 120km/h.
The MetService said winds of that strength had the potential to damage trees, powerlines and roofs and would make driving difficult for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
Motorists were asked to take care on the Rimutaka Hills, between Upper Hutt and Featherston and the Takapau Plains, south of Waipukurau in central Hawke's Bay.
- NZPA
