The severe weather warning stretched across most of the island with conditions expected to worsen during the day. The worst of the weather would be felt in Fiordland, Westland, Buller, Southern Lakes, Nelson, Marlborough, the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch. Central New Zealand is bracing for potentially damaging gale force winds as a wintry storm bears down on the country. At the same time heavy rain will lash western parts of the country with warnings issued for Fiordland, Westland , the ranges of Buller and northwest Nelson and Mount Taranaki. Wind warnings are in force for Wairarapa through to Canterbury with north-westerly gales of up to 140kph expected to pound both islands for the next two days.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 12, 2016 18:39 UTC