Snow, rain cause chaos on roads

Snow and rain is causing chaos on the roads throughout New Zealand.

Havy rain in the upper North Island has led to floods and slips severely disrupting traffic while in the South snow is making driving hazardous.

The Desert Road on State Highway 1 in the central North Island is closed due to snow and police are urging extreme caution on the Rimutaka Hill Road on SH2 north of Wellington because of strong winds.

In the South Island the Lindis, Lewis and Porters Pass Roads are all open but motorists are being told to watch out for ice.

The bad weather is expected to clear later today.

- NZPA