A downed tree in Homewood Road, Riversdale, Wairarapa. Photo: Supplied / Paul Williams
Schools and businesses are closed, there are widespread power outages and fallen trees have blocked roads as gale force winds continue to buffet Wairarapa.
Authorities are urging people to hunker down indoors.
Lines company Powerco's outage map shows just over 7000 properties are without power.
Some rural roads have been shut, including Masterton-Castlepoint Road - the main route between town and the coast - due to fallen trees.
A large branch fallen near a church in Carterton. Photo: RNZ / Sally Round
The region's district councils - South Wairarapa, Carterton and Masterton - have reported damage from trees and debris.
They said crews were working hard to clear the roads, and people should stay inside and avoid travel if they can.
It's rubbish collection day in Greytown and wheelie bins can be seen upturned and skating along pavements. Several big oak trees have branches down and limbs on other trees are hanging precariously.
Meanwhile, Metlink said the route 200 bus service and all school bus services were cancelled. However, the 6.40pm and 7.30pm route 200 services from Featherston to Martinborough would still operate to meet Wairarapa Line train passengers, it said.
New World Carterton was closed (but has since reopened), and many other businesses across Wairarapa had posted on social media saying they will stay shut due to the wild weather.
Fire and Emergency said it had received dozens of calls since early Tuesday morning, mostly due to downed trees and roofs lifting.
The Greytown volunteer fire brigade posted on Facebook that it had responded to a bush fire just before 2am "caused by arcing powerlines".
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
