Quake recovery efforts will be hampered by the weather today, with severe gales gusting up to 140km/h expected to hit the upper South Island and lower North Island today.
MetService has issued a severe weather warning for Wellington, Marlborough and the Wairarapa, with severe gale north to northwest winds forecast to develop in exposed places.
The gales were expected to ease on Tuesday.
Westland, Buller and northwest Nelson face another warning, with 150mm to 200mm of rain expected to fall from Monday afternoon through to Tuesday morning. Thunderstorms were also expected.
