The MetService is forecasting the strong westerly winds battering the country are set to continue until Wednesday.
MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said a high over the Tasman Sea should bring lighter winds for the weekend.
"We are now stepping into the months of spring. As the sun moves south,
thelonger days mean extra warmth over the Southern Ocean and this
powers up the winds," Mr McDavitt said.
Weather Watch spokesman Philip Duncan says conditions will ease pretty quickly for the top part of the country, as a large high pressure system north moves down over Auckland and Waikato.
He expects gale force winds in Canterbury, Wairarapa and around the Southern Alps.
Emergency services started getting reports around 11 last night of
slips and trees falling over roads from most parts of the country, particularly from Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne and Wellington.
A large slip of mud and trees has closed Te Anga Rd, east of the Waitomo caves.
Police have said the road was to be closed until mid-day.
Train services from Wellington to Paraparaumu have been brought to a halt this morning by a slip on the line.
A Kiwirail spokesman says the slip has come down between Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay and is disrupting outgoing trains.
He says buses will be brought in for passengers heading out of the city. Trains coming into Wellington from Kapiti are not affected.
Central communications Inspector Paul Jermy is warning motorists to take extreme care - especially as it is possible they could come across fresh slips.
A number of roads in the central districts have been closed or have
caution warnings on them. Inspector Jermy says so far no crashes or
property damage have been reported, but the weather is causing significant problems.
