Mission Bay tree split in half by lightning

A tree in Mission Bay has been split in half by lightning. Photo / Chris Leskovsek/Supplied

A massive tree has been split in the Auckland suburb of Mission Bay, thought to be caused by a lightning strike.

"There's a large Norfolk pine tree and it has been split, in the middle of it, down in the main trunk area," said Newstalk ZB reporter Annabel Reid.

"We understand it's from a lightning storm. There are tree removal people here on site keeping people well away from it," she said.

The lightning strike happened overnight as a wintry blast swept the country, bringing snow to the South Island and cold snaps around the north.