The country's wintry blast took another bite on Tuesday night, bringing major frosts to the top of the south and the bottom of the north where temperatures dropped to well below zero.
Marlborough sounded like a war zone overnight Tuesday as more than 50 helicopters fought the frost in New Zealand's biggest wine growing region. Temperatures dropped to -2 degrees centigrade just when some of the vines were at their most vulnerable.
Some of the helicopters were off the ground just a few hours after dark on Tuesday night in Marlborough, North Canterbury and Hawke's Bay as vineyard operators worried about the early chardonnay buds.
With the late snowstorm hitting the country the vineyards knew they would be in for frosts and were as prepared as they could be with smudge pots in place and fired up to help stir the air at ground level.
On Wednesday the vineyards were checking the damage and counting the cost although there are no reports of major damage.
"It certainly will have an impact on the time of ripening, the degree of cropping level and a lot of it's still in the lap of the gods," says Kim Rayner of Torlesse Wines.
The full effects are still some time off.
Meanwhile, Canterbury roads still closed due to weather conditions this week are expected to open by midday on Thursday.
The city council says part of one road on the Port Hills will remain closed until Wednesday evening because of deep drifts, while another part was opened around midday after rocks were cleared.
The Banks Peninsula District Council says frost and ice were less severe than expected and most of the snow has been cleared, but it warns winter driving conditions still exist.
See video here: http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/423465/612990
It would be cool to see 50 people online on multiplayer, in the dark, over
Marlborough...
