Fire crews are racing to get a handful of large fires put out in Kaikōura before wind that's been hitting large parts of the country pick up again.
Multiple fires fanned by fierce winds destroyed 14 buildings on Tuesday, including five homes. Meanwhile, many other households passed the night in the cold, after power was knocked out to thousands of properties across the country.
MetService said it's possible some of its warnings for damaging gales and heavy rain for central and southern parts of the country may be upgraded to red.
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