Icy start for parts of South Island

Southern Police spokesman John Doherty said the crash was one of several incidents already reported due to icy roads this morning. Photo / Supplied

A horse float has flipped on its side in a crash on icy roads near Oamaru this morning.
The crash, about 3km north of Oamaru on State Highway 1, occurred about 7.40am.

Southern Police spokesman John Doherty said the crash was one of several incidents already reported due to icy roads this morning.

Most were minor and no one had been injured yet, he said.

There were horses in the float when it flipped and a vet was called to the incident, he said.

"It's still pretty cold and frosty down that way, further south.

"The roads in general are pretty icy and they reckon it's icing up again, sheets of the stuff by the looks of it. Bit hard to grit it when there's so much to go on," Mr Doherty said.

Oamaru Police have issued a warning to advise drivers to take extreme care because of significant icing on the roads.

New Zealand Transport Agency is also warning motorists to take care on the icy roads with extreme winter conditions along state highways in the south.

Area warnings in place:

State Highway 94 from Te Anau to Milford Sound - Snow

State Highway 6 from Frankton to Queenstown - Ice

State Highway 79 from Geraldine to Fairlie - Ice

State Highway 80 Mount Cook Highway - Ice

State Highway 8 from Twizel to Fairlie - Ice