Strong wind gusts of up to 140km/h are barrelling up the country felling trees, power lines and lifting roofs, emergency services say.
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Gales buffeted the east coast of the South Island between 7am and about 8.30am, southern fire communications shift manager Tim Reynolds said.
"We've had two reports of roofs lifting [in Kaikoura]."
Trees had come down in around Oxford, Sheffield, Cust and Kirwee in north Canterbury, Mr Reynolds said.
"It's quietened down now," he said.
Sergeant Dean Lawrence of southern police communications said a campervan was also blown over north of Kaikoura on the State Highway 1 about 7.30am.
Nobody was injured in the incident.
Mr Lawrence said they would ask drivers to take care in the area.
Also this morning, a power line has blocked a road in Wainuiomata, north of Wellington.
The line came down on Karaka Street, a police spokesman said.