Winds up to 130km/h wreak havoc in Otago

A severe weather watch is in force for the Otago headwaters this morning, while gusts meant a busy Labour Day for volunteer firefighters across the Southern region.

Gusts up to 130km/h brought down power poles, trees, smashed windows and caused roofing iron to lift in Queenstown, while volunteer firefighters in Northern Southland and North Otago battled to contain large scrub fires.

Last night, the MetService issued a severe weather warning, with heavy rain expected for the Otago and Canterbury headwaters this morning, with rivers and streams expected to rise rapidly.

Northwest winds, gusting up to 130km/h, battered exposed places in Otago and Southland before abating last night.

Queenstown Fire Brigade station officer Bobby Lamont said the gusts were the worst he had seen in his 12 years at the resort, keeping the more than two dozen volunteer firefighters at Queenstown, Frankton and Arrowtown stations busy.

Over a period of four hours, trees and powerlines were bought down, and a small fire threatened the luxury B&B Trelawn Place, with firefighters given a reprieve when rain started falling at 9pm.

Two roads - Malaghans Rd and Gorge Rd - remained closed this morning due to felled trees.

Power was cut to Glenorchy, Lake Hayes Estate, Kelvin Heights, Fernhill, Sunshine Bay, Arthur's Point and Kingston, with power authorities working to restore supplies last night.

Queenstown harbourmaster Marty Black said a 15m-long catamaran had drifted from its moorings at Kelvin Grove due to the large gusts, and been blown out to the centre of Queenstown Arms.

While the vessel was retrieved, it served as a reminder for boat users to check moorings.

In North Otago firefighters, Rural Fire authorities and helicopters with monsoon buckets worked to contain 500m-long fire in a pine plantation off Danseys Pass Rd.

The fire was under control last night, but the situation could change depending on the wind, Southern communications shift manager Karl Patterson said.

Nine fire appliances and a command unit from Invercargill also battled a large fire in a 200m row of trees near Mossburn which brought down powerlines and threatened a property.

Five fire appliances also attended a fire in trees on Pryde Rd, Waikouaiti, which was brought under control late last night, Mr Patterson said.

The Omakau Volunteer Fire Brigade was called out shortly after 7pm because the roof on an old farm shed near Omakau was lifting in the high winds.

"There was nothing we could do and it was in the middle of a paddock so it wasn't a danger to anyone," Deputy Chief Fire Officer Lloyd Harris said.

"We left it as it was because it wasn't worth risking life and limb to try and tie it down."

Cromwell residents said the area was buffeted by high winds.

Several accommodation outlets said guests had booked in during the afternoon and evening, cutting their trip short because they did not want to drive any further in the high winds. Other guests had opted to stay an extra night, for the same reason.