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Wild weather has caused widespread damage to the power networks in Southland and Otago, leaving at least 2,500 homes without electricity.
Powernet said line crews were working to restore supply as quickly and safely as possible to its customers.
The company said customers should make arrangements to be without power overnight, as most of the repair work would not be completed today.
Power outages have affected Riverton, Otatara and some parts of Invercargill.
Southland and Otago have also been warned to prepare for more gale force winds tomorrow, after being thrashed earlier today.
MetService has issued a severe weather watch for the southern coast tomorrow, with gusts from daybreak expected to reach about 120km/h.
Civil Defence is advising people to check their roofs as soon as possible and make repairs before the gales arrive.
The MetService said winds elsewhere were due to ease overnight, in the North Island, between Hastings and Eketahuna, 36km north of Masterton, severe gales up to 120km/h were expected between 3pm and 9pm tomorrow.
The winds were not expected to be as strong as today's, but MetService advised people living in the area to stay up to date with the latest forecasts.
Strong winds today battered large parts of the country, closing schools in Southland and triggering warnings to motorists in the central and lower North Island.
The road between Dannevirke and Takapau was closed to all vehicles for part of the day, though cars were later allowed through.
Sergeant Earl Fincham said the wind was calming down after this morning's drama when two truck-trailers, a caravan and an ambulance were tipped over.
He said no accidents had been reported since the road was closed this morning.
St Johns district operations manager in Dannevirke, Steve Yanko, said the winds buffeting the region were "horrendous".
The ambulance that rolled was on its way to an emergency call out after a car was crushed by a fallen tree.
Mr Yanko said the ambulance was just north of Dannevirke when a gust pushed it off the road, pushing it through a fence and rolling it 360 degrees until it righted again.
Drivers in the Wellington region were told to stay off the Rimutaka Hill Road with strong northwest winds gusting up to 130km in the region and into the Wairarapa and south of Hastings.
A police spokesman in Christchurch said dozens of calls had been received about debris on the roads and downed power lines. There had been no reports of major incidents or injuries.
A truck was blown off the road near Kaikoura about 10.20am with the driver receiving only minor cuts and bruises.
The truck was blown onto its side and into a paddock. It was not blocking the road, the spokesman said.
Rail services have also been disrupted with the Main South Line closed at Dunedin when the roof of a Pak n Save supermarket was blown onto the railway line.
It has since been cleared but the Main South Line remains closed south of Mosgiel because trees had blown over the line.
Invercargill Civil Defence spokesman Kerry Doig said said staff had been organising meals for firefighters who have responded to about 150 calls this morning.
Earlier, flights into Invercargill were cancelled and a firefighter was hurt when he was blown off a Bluff roof onto a barbecue table.
He was discharged after being treated at hospital for cuts to his head.
Southland police were warning people to stay in doors if possible as debris from the storm is flung around the streets.
Sergeant Ian Martin of the Invercargill police said Queens Park in central Invercargill was closed to the public with a large number of branches being blown around.
"There's been some minor property damage with roofing iron and tiles being lifted and a couple of brick walls collapsing," Mr Martin said.
He said power lines and phone lines were down in areas but no roads had been closed as a result.
"Two people are in A&E with minor injuries and, very early on, there was a fireman in Bluff who was injured securing roof iron," Mr Martin said.
A satellite dish at the local TV station was in danger of coming down this morning but that has since been lashed to the building by technicians, he said.
Mr Martin said people should only go outside if absolutely necessary.
Mr Martin also said he had unconfirmed reports of several schools closing in the region.
Ministry of Education spokesman Ian Butler said the ministry was not notified when schools close during an emergency and he could not confirm which ones were closed or how many.
A spokesman for the Invercargill fire service said firefighters were going from job to job and were "flat out".
He said up to 14 trucks were on the road in the southern region attending roofs being blown off and walls being knocked over.
He said that from 6am call-outs had been backed up. "When it gets to daylight, the calls really start to come in. I'd say over 150," the spokesman said.
In the Wellington region, a small truck travelling over the Rimutaka Hill Road reported being spun around by the force of the wind earlier this morning.
There was no damage or injuries but Sergeant Bruce Mackay said this was an indicator of the severity of the conditions being experienced.
Motorcyclists and motorists in high-sided vehicles should be especially cautious or delay unnecessary travel, he said.
MetService forecaster Bob Lake said a low in the Tasman Sea was causing the powerful winds in the lower half of the South Island.
Mr Lake said the weather system would bring a short and intense burst of heavy rain to the West Coast.
Marlborough, Canterbury and eastern parts of the North Island are also in for strong winds.
- with NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA
