Thousands of homes in the New Zealand city of Auckland were without power for several hours after severe winter storms brought down a major power line. The blackout halted trains and caused chaos on the roads, while two large hospitals were forced to close.
There were no reports of deaths or injuries.
New Zealand's South Island was also hit by heavy snow and rain, with several major roads rendered impassable. Flights were also disrupted.
Police advised people who did not need to travel to stay at home.