Motorists are being warned about wintry conditions in the South Island, where an Antarctic front has brought a fresh dumping of snow.
Snow fell in Dunedin last night. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
Police had calls to a handful of minor accidents and cars getting stuck in the snow overnight.
A woolly jumper was essential in Fairlight, Southland this morning. Photo: Supplied / Pete Van Berkel
Temperatures dropped close to zero in Wanaka and Alexandra overnight.
State Highway 85 Ranfurly to Omakau and SH 93 from Mataura to Clinton are closed due to snow, and road snowfall warnings issued for other South Island passes, the Desert Road and Napier-Taupo road in the north. Local roads around Dunedin and Queenstown were closed or require motorists to use chains.
Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
Schools in Queenstown were closed for the day and five primary schools on Dunedin's hills are also shut.
Several bus services in Dunedin were only running on the flat last night and terminating at the Octagon because of snow on the hills.
A heavy snow watch for Canterbury, Fiordland, Southland and Otago has been lifted.