A stunning image of Mt Tarawera captured from Coastlands in the Bay of Plenty this morning. Photo / Roz Anderson Photography
Bay of Plenty residents have been greeted to the stunning sight of snow on Mt Tarawera this morning as a wintry blast moves up the country.
Snow has also fallen on Trafford's Hill, on the Ōpōtiki side of the Waioeka Gorge, in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
Much of the country woke to wintry temperatures this morning. In the North Island the coldest area was Taupō on 0C and in the South Island Twizel was down to -5C.
State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupō was closed for much of the morning but reopened about 9.40am.
The Desert Rd remains closed.
Wayne Feisst captured images of the snow on Mt Tarawera this morning from Edgecumbe.
He said it was "a tad nippy" but the added wind was contributing to the low temperature.
Roz Anderson also captured a stunning photo of the mountain from Coastlands this morning.
There is a strong wind watch for eastern parts of Bay of Plenty, Gisborne north of Ruatoria and southeastern parts of Taupō until 8am today.
Weather for the region looks settled for the rest of the week before returns on Saturday.
Inflation rose to 3%, the highest since June last year, affecting living costs.