Strong winds batter North Island

Planes were flying into Wellington again today after the airport was earlier shut, but some ferry sailings were cancelled this morning.

High winds hit central New Zealand as far north as Hamilton.

MetService forecaster Andy Downs said gusts of up to 140km/h hit parts of Wellington late last night as the gale force southerly hit its peak.

Areas as far south as Kaikoura and as far north as Hamilton were hit by the gales.

Winds of up to 110km/h closed Wellington International Airport just before 7pm, but a spokesman today told NZPA flights had resumed this morning.

The strong winds made for tricky driving conditions across the North Island and felled at least one large tree in Hamilton.

The wind had eased in most parts this morning, but large swells were still likely about eastern areas from Gisborne to Canterbury today, especially about the southern coast of Wellington.

An Interisland line spokeswoman said ferry sailings were unaffected yesterday, but the lingering large swells meant a freight sailing at 5.30am was cancelled, as was the sailing of the Lynx fast ferry at 8am.

Other ferries were expected to sail on time, but conditions would be assessed before each departure.

The Lynx cannot sail in swells above 4m, and the other ferries in swells over 5m.

Wind speeds in Hamilton peaked at 70km/h during gusty periods, blowing down a large tree on Peachgrove Rd and making driving difficult.

In Hamilton 23mm of rain fell over the weekend, while 49mm fell in Whitianga.

Mr Downs said the squally conditions in the Waikato were worst around Waitomo and Raglan, although it was the Coromandel that was wettest.

The low that had caused all the strife was now centred east of the North Island, off the coast of Gisborne.

- NZPA