Wellington surfers braved the cold wind and took to the water to ride the biggest waves in 20 years today.
Photo: RNZ / Jonathan Mitchell
MetService said huge swells of up to five metres have been reported between the South Coast of the South Island and East Cape in the North.
When word got out this afternoon, about two dozen surfers raced down to Lyall Bay and got into their wet suits.
The waves were impressive - up to three-and-a-half metres - lapping the coast line and beach front.
Many passersby stopped their cars to pull over and take photos and watch the surfers.
One surfer, Kynan Murphy, said it was pretty rough.
"Not the easiest conditions... oh bloody cold...(I was out there) about an hour," he said.
Another, Cormac, got right in the thick of it.
"I just thrown around like a rag doll... it's not the first time it has been happening," he said.
MetService said the huge swells are because of a southwesterly weather system and should ease in the coming days.