Voters in many parts of the North Island were told to expect stormy, wet weather as they headed to the polls in today's election.
MetService had issued a severe weather watch for Taranaki, Whanganui, Taihape, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Northland, Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula.
In the South Island, the weather was fine throughout much of the day but a southerly change was expected to bring showers to Southland, Otago and Canterbury later in the day.
Despite the inclement weather in some areas, the Electoral Commission said that despite the weather polling booths throughout the country reported steady flows of people since they opened this morning.
Lines company, Powerco, says about 16,000 customers lost electricity earlier in the afternoon in Waitotara, Ratana, Marton, Feilding, Turakina, Bulls and Himatangi.
It said teams were busy fixing the faults, and hope to have power back to all properties by 7.30pm.
The Fire Service says part of a warehouse roof has been blown off in Whanganui.
The Electoral Commission said more people had registered to vote in today's election than at the last one in 2011.
A final total is yet to be released but the latest figures show 3,096,240 people have registered for the country's 51st general election, at least 20,000 more than three years ago.