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Lightning strikes have started large fires and strong winds have toppled trees, powerlines and torn roofs off houses in Canterbury as a storm batters the lower part of the country tonight.
Emergency services were fielding hundreds of calls from the region with nearly all Fire Service appliances required to meet the heavy demand, said spokesman Jaron Phillips.
"There is a lot of damage to properties, roofs off buildings, trees down, tiles lifting," he said.
Of particular concern was a large fire in a private forestry block on Cramptons Bush Rd, Hurinui, he said.
A fire with a front of about 500m was "ripping across the top of trees" and fallen debris was preventing eight appliances from entering the area.
There were other large fires around the district, too. In West Melton a hedge fire had spread to a shed, in Ashburton a burning cluster of trees threatened housing, and in Leeston there was a fire at the local showgrounds.
Emergency services in Wellington also reported a small amount of damaged to roofs and signs.
St John reported no injuries from the events that included trees falling on occupied cars.
The lower south Island has been battered by a fierce front that has wreaked havoc and forecasters warn it is on its way north.
MetService has issued severe weather warnings for the lower half of the country as the front moves over the South Island before moving over the lower North Island tomorrow.
Fiordland bore the brunt of the front this morning with heavy rain and a spectacular thunderstorm which heralded the arrival of the bad weather.