By GREGG WYCHERLEY and NZPA
Freezing gales whipped the central North Island yesterday, and parts of the South Island face heavy snowfalls and strong winds again today as the southerly storms continue.
Forecasters predict that the cold weather will continue until at least Thursday.
The MetService yesterday issued severe warnings for
many areas, especially hill country in the South Island and central North Island.
In the North Island, the strongest winds are expected east of Taihape and around exposed parts of Hawkes Bay, especially near the Ruahine and Kaweka Ranges.
Snow and gales are also likely above 1400m in the central North Island with a possibility of a light dusting for the Desert Rd.
In the South Island, very cold southwesterly gales are expected around coastal Otago and Southland this morning, with wind gusts of 110km/h in exposed places.
A heavy snow warning was issued for South Otago and Eastern Southland hill country.
In Dunedin and Invercargill, police are hot about a national headquarters policy on cold weather gear.
Neither Dunedin nor Invercargill police stations are classified as cold weather stations, so officers do not receive cold weather clothing entitlements.
"We're an emergency response organisation; we've got to do our job under all weather conditions," Police Association southern regional director Senior Constable Dave Steel said.
"Yet if Dunedin and Invercargill staff want gloves, woollen hats or proper footwear for snow, they have to fork out for it themselves."
Mr Steel said the battle over Dunedin and Invercargill's cold weather classification had been ongoing.
Dunedin's head of policing, Inspector Dave Campbell, said there were some "inequities" with the classification but did not believe it was a big issue despite the Police Association's concerns.
Mr Campbell said he understood that the classifications were based on the number of annual frost days in each area.
Clothing tended to be a "preference thing", he said."If people were given balaclavas they may chose not to wear them. They can buy a pair of polypropylene gloves for $10.
nzherald.co.nz/weather
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