Even NI is getting it.

Hawke's Bay freeze shuts schools, roads
14 June 2006
By BRUCE CUTLER and NZPA

A cold front sweeping the country dumped snow in Hawke's Bay, closing roads and schools, and South Island farmers faced a second day of bitter chill. Snowmen and sleds replaced school books for pupils in parts of the central North Island yesterday as snow blanketed the ranges west of Napier.

The Desert Road was shut at 5.30pm, and not expected to reopen till this morning. The alternative route through Ohakune was still open last night.

Some snow fell on the Rimutaka Hill Road but it remained open. The Napier-Taihape road was closed by mid-morning after up to 30 centimetres fell in the upper ranges of the Gentle Annie region. A spokesman said the road could reopen this afternoon – but that depended on any further falls. Snow also slowed traffic on the Napier-Taupo road.

Black ice and treacherous conditions were expected this morning. Light snow fell to 600 metres throughout Hawke's Bay and the central island.

Steve Kelleher of Ruangatiki Station, 50 kilometres east of Taihape, said his children spent much of the day making snowmen and riding sleds after Moawhango School sent pupils home. MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said conditions should improve late today.

Technicians restored power yesterday to 40 houses in Rotorua that had been without electricity for 24 hours. Unison lines company spokesman Bill Hewitt said remote areas might have blackouts.

In North Otago and Canterbury, some high-country farmers had not been able to check on stock trapped by the biggest snowfall in 60 years. Federated Farmers said property damage in Canterbury included roofs buckling under the weight of snow, but no stock losses had been reported.

Oamaru farmer Bruce McNab said the cold snap had taken farmers by surprise. The snow had frozen hard last night, compounding access problems. With more bad weather forecast tomorrow, farmers would be moving fast to bring in stock.