Wild weather: Power restored to 9996 homes, just four to go

High winds yesterday brought down a large tree in the driveway of a home in Hamilton East. Photo / Christine Cornege

All but four households have had their power restored after stormy weather left 10,000 Auckland households without power yesterday.

The wintry blast, described by MetService meteorologists as not unusual for this time of year, resulted in ferries cancellations, snowfalls and roads closures across the country.

Vector spokeswoman Sandy Hodge said four houses in rural areas around Auckland today remained without power.

Photos: Wild weather affects North and South

Image 1 of 10: Snow blankets a car in Brockville, Dunedin. Photo / Otago Daily Times

"There were 10,000 at the height of the storm and we were down to about 2179 at 4pm and then we were down to 1000 at 5pm and then that just peeled off."

Power was expected to be restored to the remaining four properties by around midday today, Ms Hodge said.

Interislander spokesman Michael Flyger said all ferry services have resumed today after swells of up to six metres in Cook Strait forced the cancellation of passenger services yesterday.

All passengers affected by the cancellations yesterday were accommodated on morning sailings this morning. However, there was a slight backlog of freight services, he said.

The storm also forced buses to replace some train services in the capital after the high tide and wind caused water to cover rail tracks just south of Petone.

The Desert Rd was also temporarily closed yesterday because of snow but reopened around midday, an NZTA spokesman said.

In Canterbury the storm made driving treacherous and lifted the roof off a Christchurch house. Meanwhile, ski fields on Mt Ruapehu welcomed the cold snap, after it brought 30cm of snowfall at Whakapapa and 15cm at Turoa.