Passengers evacuated from flight

Air New Zealand, which owns Mt Cook Airlines, was not immediately able to provide any information. Photo / Twitter / @wellys219

Emergency services were put on alert when smoke appeared in the cockpit of a Mt Cook Airlines flight this morning.

A Fire Service spokeswoman said the plane had landed at Auckland and all passengers evacuated by the time fire crews arrived.

Police, ambulance and airport authorities had also been alerted.

It was not known what had caused the smoke at this stage.

An Auckland Airport spokesman said there were some delays as a result of the incident but flights were now operating as normal.

Air New Zealand, which owns Mt Cook Airlines, was not immediately able to provide any information.

Meanwhile strong wind gusts are playing havoc with travellers' plans in Wellington.

Arrivals have been delayed and several departures cancelled this morning, due to the bad weather.

Some disruption due to high winds, we advise passengers to check with their airline or at http://t.co/3HB7c6EXfm on their flight status

MetService says a front over the upper South Island, preceded by heavy rain and gales, should cross the North Island today and weaken.

Severe gale northwesterlies are expected in eastern Marlborough and the sounds, Wellington and Wairarapa, as well as heavy rain to the Tararua Range and the ranges of Buller.

The wild weather is expected to ease from the south during the day.

- with Newstalk ZB