Road users are being warned to take care due to rain affecting roads in Otago.
Heavy rain with the potential to make rivers swell, roads flood and earth slip was forecast for the north-east and central parts of the country throughout Sunday.
The New Zealand Transport Agency advised that part of SH8 in Central Otago, from Cromwell to Tarras, was flooded from mid-morning.
There was also surface flooding between the townships of Omakau and Becks on State Highway 85.
MetService had earlier issued a road snowfall warning for the Lindis Pass until about midday, but this was lifted in the afternoon.
However, motorists using State Highway 80 (Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Ben Ohau in Canterbury) were also advised to drive to winter conditions.
There was a blanket of snow at the University of Canterbury Mount John Observatory.
On Saturday, up to 50 cars were stuck in snow after an unexpected dumping around Mt Cook.
A New Zealand Transport Agency spokeswoman said about 50 vehicles were trapped on SH8 between Twizel and Fairlie and on SH80 between Aoraki Mt Cook and Ben Ohau. Most were caught out on SH8.
The cars were trapped from midday for two to three hours after about 15cm of snow fell in the region.
Heavy rain for east of NZ
The wet weather which drenched Auckland yesterday had moved and was expected to hit Gisborne, Whakatane and the Bay of Plenty from about 11am.
MetService duty forecaster Tuporo Marsters expected this would continue through till about 6pm, with an average of 20mm to 30mm of rain per hour.
"In those sorts of situations, a lot of moist air coming off the sea, it could cause slips, any blockages in the drains and rivers swelling, it could cause flooding.''
While it was wet, Mr Marsters did not expect it would be windy.
Around the main centres, in Dunedin it would be cloudy with the odd morning shower on Sunday, light winds and a high of 12degC. Rain was forecast for the week.
Christchurch was forecast to have a few showers over the next few days, with a cool, but dry day expected on Wednesday.
Wellington was predicted to be mainly cloudy today - though the odd shower might hit the capital. The sun was not expected to make a showing till Wednesday, when MetService predicted Wellingtonians should have a largely fine day albeit a cold one with a high of 11degC.
The worst of the weather had eased in Auckland, but the odd thunderstorm and a few showers were still expected on Sunday afternoon and were set to stick around till at least Thursday. Fog enveloped parts of the city on Sunday morning after heavy rain last night.
- ODT and NZME
