Strong wind gusts of up to 140km/h are barrelling up the country felling trees, power lines and lifting roofs, emergency services say.
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Gales buffeted the east coast of the South Island between 7am and about 8.30am, southern fire communications shift manager Tim Reynolds said.
"We've had two reports of roofs lifting [in Kaikoura]."
Trees had come down in around Oxford, Sheffield, Cust and Kirwee in north Canterbury, Mr Reynolds said.