Hawke's Bay and Taupo residents are being urged to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel as wet and snowy weather causes havoc in the region.
Some areas are without power - mostly in rural areas.
Flooding, mud slides and heavy snow has also closed roads including State Highway Two from Napier to Wairoa and the Napier - Taupo highway.
Civil Defence Controller, Ian MacDonald, says roads are treacherous: "There's a bit of wind about, and it's also raining - and on top of that we've had a number of power outages, which has affected the lights."
Mr MacDonald encourages people to check on any vulnerable members of their family - especially elderly people living on their own.
Newshub.
