At least 115 motorists are stranded on the road near Fox Glacier, with downed power lines and trees blocking the State Highway.
Fox Glacier had a wet start to the day. Photo: NZTA
Andrew Thompson, Westland Civil Defence Public Information Officer, said attempts to reach them had to be abandoned.
He said many of the motorists were tourists, and there was at least one Kiwi Experience bus on the side of the road, filled with young people.
They were trapped on the road between Fox Glacier and Franz Josef township.
At least 115 motorists are stranded near Fox Glacier after downed power lines and trees blocked the State Highway.
Westland Civil Defence's Andrew Thompson, said attempts to reach them have had to be abandoned.
He said many of the motorists were tourists, and there was at least one Kiwi Experience bus filled with young people on the side of the road.
"There's power lines down - live power lines down - over the road, and also trees down.
"So we're doing our best to get to them but nothing can be done tonight."
Mr Thompson said assisting them would be a priority in the morning.
The weather was still severe in the Westland area, and an emergency operations centre was set up in response.