Hail has pelted Aucklanders today, while snow has paved the Desert Rd and blanketed Dunedin.

Heavy snow and bitterly cold southerlies are expected in parts of the country today.

A wintry blast which battered the South Island over night is now making its way north, with several weather watches and warnings in place.

Heavy rain is forecast to sweep the South Island this morning as most centres settle in for a drizzly day.

A short and sharp weather bomb hit Auckland and the Bay of Plenty today causing surface flooding and damage to some homes throughout the regions.

The freezing temperatures have caused burst water pipes and hot water cylinders and flooding in Auckland and Hamilton homes.

Rain that has caused flooding in areas of the lower North Island has finally eased off, however it looks set to be replaced with freezing temperatures.

Yesterday's destructive waves are likely to become a more common occurrence, says a councillor from the worst-hit parts of Wellington.

Massive waves caused havoc on Wellington's south coast, sending boulders onto roads, despite fine and sunny weather in the region today.

Temperatures have plummeted unusually sharply this month, with the mild start to May now a distant memory - and next month looks set to be even colder.

Get out those raincoats, gumboots and umbrellas as rain and wind are set to continue lashing the upper North Island.

Wild weather which caused havoc across the North Island this week has made way for cooler temperatures and southerly winds.

Cleanup efforts have started. Mount Maunganui Intermediate will be closed Friday after announcing that it had suffered “considerable damage”.

Climate scientists are warning that a large, ocean-driven El Nino system could bring unwelcome weather extremes this year, making the east coast drier.

The Metservice says it will have to change its rain gauge at Haast because it is “not responding well to periods of heavy rain”.

Heavy rain and gales were expected for some areas tonight and tomorrow, with thunderstorms possible in or around Auckland.

The cold snap that left much of the country shivering is now on its way out, but don't celebrate too soon: a wet weekend is on the cards.

The Easter weekend gets off a sunny start for most of the country today, but cloud and drizzle are on the way for Sunday Easter egg hunts.

Kiwis have more than chocolate eggs to look forward to this long Easter weekend, with mostly fine weather forecast for the country.

Live updates of Cyclone Pam's impact in New Zealand and the aftermath in devastated Pacific Island nations.

Volunteer Service Abroad said it could still not account for four Kiwi volunteers in Vanuatu.

Dozens are feared dead on Vanuatu and up to 10,000 are homeless in the wake of Cyclone Pam.

Tropical Cyclone Pam is slowly weakening as it approaches NZ, but will still be "a very powerful tropical cyclone" as it passes the country within a few hundred kilometres.

Gisborne Civil Defence says local residents should be prepared for strong winds, large sea surges, coastal erosion, some rain and power loss.

A severe tropical cyclone that's causing destruction to Pacific Islands is edging closer to New Zealand.

Even if the system misses New Zealand, big swells and rough seas could still cause real problems for the fleet.