Firewood is being in rationed in Christchurch as temperatures dive and suppliers struggle to keep up with demand.
On Monday morning it plummeted to -3degC and residents are being limited to picking up just one cubic metre of firewood each.
People arrived en masse at Christchurch City Firewood regardless, the queue snaking out the gate and blocking a road.
"We've always got dry wood, but there's only so much we have. If people don't need it straight away, just hang in there, it's coming, it's always going to be coming," the company's John Harris told Newshub.
The shortage has been weeks in the making after a cold May put suppliers on the back foot.
Recent wet weather is making it difficult to dry stockpiles of wood, making the material useless for burning.
Now winter has arrived properly, with temperatures plunging to -3degC overnight.
MetService is warning this is just the start of the winter cold.
"We're going to find temperatures colder or at least very similar over the next couple of months or so," forecaster John Day told Newshub.
"Temperatures tonight, still very cold, probably back below freezing for the likes of Christchurch and probably very similar for those inland parts of Canterbury as well."
Suppliers are now hoping for a break in the weather; they need a two-week dry spell to give them a chance to dry out and stock up.
"We're really hoping to get on top of it, and bring those waiting limits back and open up the limits so everyone can take - and in a few weeks, hopefully we can get on top of that," Mr Harris said.
Until then dry wood will continue to be rationed, forcing residents to line up for supplies.
Newshub.
