Snow continues to fall in the North Island as a cold snap moves up the country.
The Rimutaka Hill Road is closed this morning and police do not know when the road will reopen, but the snow is expected to ease by mid-morning.
The NZ Transport Agency said the road was likely to remain closed until at least midday.
NZTA Wellington operations manager Mark Owen said snow was still falling on the Wairarapa side as far south as Featherston, and the road would remain closed until the NZTA cleared the snow and deemed the road safe for travel.
"Safety is our top priority. We share motorists' frustrations, and our crews will be working to get the road safely reopened as soon as possible."
Mr Owen urged motorists to drive with care, and to the conditions on all other roads while the cold snap continues.
Snow has also forced the closure of the Desert Road in the North Island, and State Highway 87 from Outram to Middlemarch, and SH94 from Te Anau to Milford Sound in the South Island.
MetService forecasts the snow to ease in the South Island, but more snow is expected in the central the North Island.
A heavy snow warning remains in place for the central North Island ranges, from Taihape to the Kaweka Range of Hawkes Bay to northern Manawatu, with snow down to 800m expected to continue through the morning.
More snow fell in parts of Christchurch overnight, while both Auckland and Wellington were pelted with heavy rain and snow overnight.
Despite the weather, firefighters around the country reported a quiet night for crews.
Otago residents were urged to take care on roads this morning, with temperatures forecast to drop close to freezing and rain and snow expected to turn to ice.
A southerly front bombarded the region yesterday with snow, hail, rain and gusty winds, and many areas were forecast to receive overnight lows of between 3C and minus 1C.
