A severe weather warning has been issued as heavy rain and gales are expected to hit areas across the country.

The icy southerly sweeping up the North Island has brought snow to the hills around Waikato and the Bay of Plenty and in some paddocks.

The storm was characterised by powercuts throughout the country, strong winds and even flying trampolines.

Howling winds up to 100kmh are hampering efforts to rescue 24 surviving whales on a beach in the Far North.

A large pod of pilot whales stranded on a Far North beach will hopefully be refloated tomorrow.

Gales and heavy rain pounding the North Island have shattered weather records, and winds last night hampered rescue efforts after a mass whale stranding at the northern tip of NZ.

Severe weather has hit much of NZ. Follow updates in your area.

Another cold front is set to bring more wet weather to a battered North Island with more snow forecast for Southland.

It was the storm that the chief forecaster at MetService said wasn't going to be big, and was angry at the media for saying so and for using, what he called, emotive language...

The storm that hit New Zealand this weekend cut electricity to around 45,000 people and bowled over hundreds of trees.

Southlanders are being asked to stay at home and travel on roads only if it is absolutely necessary

Delivery of the New Zealand Herald newspaper to homes in Auckland has been delayed this morning.

Around 11,000 people were still without power in the North Island this morning, after wild storms overnight.

Severe thunderstorms were lashing parts of the upper North Island tonight following chaos further south, as a powerful storm moved across the country.

A massive storm is making its presence felt on towns, cities and suburbs across NZ. See how it's impacting your area.

A storm the size of Australia is hitting New Zealand with winds of 130km/h around Wellington and heavy snow falling in parts of Westland.

The MetService has issued severe weather warnings for all of NZ as a storm the size of Australia passes over. Strong gales are forecast in many North Island areas and heavy snow in the south.