Orange weather warnings cover much of the South Island and some of the lower North Island, as gusty winds cause disruptions to flights and hamper firefighting in several other parts of the country.
Fires fueled by strong winds in New Zealand have led to evacuations and transport disruptions. While the fire in Otago could not be tackled from the air, power was cut to more than 220 households and at least 20 flights were cancelled or diverted at Wellington Airport.