Snow hits North Island farms: 'This is a really good dump'

An Ohakune farmer says this week's snow storm is the worst he's seen in at least ten years.

Farmers in the North Island are now taking their turn to deal with snow, heavy rain and wind as a cold southerly sweeps the country.

The wild weather has caused widespread power cuts, road closures and flight delays.

Alan Proude is a sheep and beef farmer between Ohakune and Raetahi and says it's been a complete white out for most of the morning.

"The worst part is it hasn't stopped, it just keeps coming at us at the moment."

Mr Proude said farmers out on tractors and machinery should be careful.

"In some places you lose sight of where you can go, especially if you've got tracks. Just be careful out there."

It doesn't snow very often on his farm and Mr Proude said this snowfall was probably the worst he has seen in at least a decade.

"Last year it got very wet but not the falls of snow like this one, this is a really good dump."

He is hoping the weather will clear tonight, but said the next problem will be dealing with mud and mush the snow leaves behind.

In Hawke's Bay some farmers near Waipukurau and Takapau have woken to a blanket of snow.

Oliver Edgecumbe is a sheep and beef farmer near Flemington and said there's been a decent amount of snow on his farm overnight.

"It was covered in snow... everything was this morning, and there was quite a lot of lightening and thunder about.

"I've been for a quick look out there (on farm), we've got some quite big sheltered gullys, we have some sheep that were shorn three to four weeks ago, I've put them out in the gullys which are pretty warm, they've got a lot of natural shelter down there."

Mr Edgecumbe said the timing wasn't too bad because the farm was still six weeks away from lambing.

Rural properties could be without power overnight

The snow and wind has cut power to more than 10,000 properties in the lower North Island and some rural areas might have to wait until tomorrow before power is back on.

The biggest cuts are in the Manawatu-Whanganui region and in towns just north of Wellington.

Powerco Network Operations Manager Phil Marsh said the storm was halting attempts to restore lines, especially where there is snow.

"Some customers are going to be experiencing all day without power... probably these in the more rural areas.

"There will be people that will be without power overnight, but we don't leave anyone off overnight so we'll be working to get everyone back on today."