Stormy weather in Auckland caused a freak accident which nearly claimed a man's life.
Strong winds knocked down a power pole, which took two other poles with it, leaving power lines on a Mt Wellington Road.
A man drove into the live wires and was trapped inside his car. He escaped unhurt once the power was cut off.
On Auckland's Harbour Bridge, high winds damaged two flagpoles which closed northbound lanes.
In Hamilton, trees fell across several roads. There was also flooding on the Hibiscus coast highway and the Pureora overbridge in Waikato.
Across the area, council workers kept busy after fallen trees blocked more roads overnight.
The police and fire service say at least 10 trees fell across roads or onto houses in suburbs such as Henderson, Takanini, Te Atatu and Titirangi. In Ardmore, south of Auckland, a mini tornado ripped up a few trees.
There was also flooding on the Southern Motorway near the Otara onramp heading north - which the police say has now started to drain away.
