Today's Edition
WELLINGTON (REUTERS)
Schools were closed and flights cancelled as New Zealand's capital Wellington was hit by its strongest winds in over a decade on Thursday, with parts of the South Island hit with 24 hours of heavy rain.
Average wind speeds reached up to 87 kilometres an hour (54mph) in Wellington, the strongest since 2013, while gusts south of the capital in coastal Baring Head touched 160 kilometres an hour, the government forecaster said.
The highest possible red wind warning has been put in place for Wellington.
"This is certainly bigger than your average bad Wellington day," said Dan Neely, a spokesperson for the Wellington region's emergency management department.
"Few roads are closed in different parts of the region. We've got some waves overtopping coastal roads and dumping some debris," he added.
The department asked people to stay indoors where possible, and to secure outdoor furniture and trampolines.
Flights at Wellington International Airport had been cancelled by the afternoon and ferry service between the North and South Islands was suspended.
A number of local schools and the Victoria University of Wellington said they had shut for the day.
