There were also South Island road snow warnings in place for Porters Pass (SH73), Lindis Pass (SH8) and Crown Range Road.
Otago, Southland and Fiordland were under a heavy snow watch this morning, with snow forecast to 500m.
NZTA said heavy rain in the east of the North Island had caused a couple of large slips on Sunday, closing both SH35 at Runaway Bay and SH2 Waimana Gorge.
This week was more of a "typical wintry pattern", Loots said.
"There are a few features, nothing too severe, just a bit unsettled with periods of rain and showers, mostly in the west."
Today western parts of the North Island would see periods of showers, while eastern areas would be mostly fine, Loots said.
In the South Island it would be the opposite with a front moving across from the West Coast this morning.
The West Coast would become fine after rain this morning, before the rain spread in eastern areas from the far south up to Nelson and Marlborough.
The front would spread rain to the lower North Island this afternoon and Taranaki by this evening.
Tomorrow the front would ease, with just some showers remaining in parts of the North Island, predominantly in the west.
On Wednesday another front would arrive in Southland and Fiordland before moving up the country through Thursday and Friday.
"There will be nothing severe, though," Loots said.
Today's weather
Whangārei
Fine spells. One or two afternoon showers. Westerly breezes. 15C high, 5C overnight.
Auckland
Cloudy periods. A few showers, mainly afternoon. Westerly breezes. 14C high, 7C overnight.
Hamilton
Cloudy periods and a few showers, mainly afternoon. Westerlies dying out in the evening. 14C high, 3C overnight.
Tauranga
Fine, then afternoon cloudy periods with a chance shower. Westerlies dying out in the evening. 14C high, 4C overnight.
New Plymouth Cloudy periods, and a few showers. Westerlies. 13C high, 6C overnight.
Napier Fine. Westerlies. 15C high, 1C overnight.
Wellington Fine at first. Rain developing from midday as strong northerlies change southerly. 12C high, 7C overnight.
Nelson Chance morning shower, occasional rain from afternoon. Light winds. 11C high, 4C overnight.
Christchurch Cloudy with showers. Southwesterlies. 10C high, 4C overnight.
Dunedin Mostly cloudy, with rain at times. Southerlies. 9C high, 5C overnight.
