While the rest of the country was ravaged by Cyclone Gita, Hawke's Bay remained relatively unscathed apart from high winds.
Police were notified multiple times from 8.45pm last night of a tree blocking the Napier-bound lane on State Highway 5. A police spokeswoman said they had advised the council.
"Cars are driving around it but it is going to cause delays until the council shifts it," she said.
MetService has issued several severe weather warnings and watches for the impacts of the tropical cyclone, including strong wind watches for much of the North Island - in place for seven hours from 7pm last night to 2am this morning in Hawke's Bay.
Thousands were without power in in New Plymouth and South Taranaki and flights and trains were cancelled including all Air New Zealand services in and out of Wellington.