Ferocious gales batter central New Zealand

Ferocious gales have been hitting large swathes of central New Zealand. A wind gust of 245-kilometres per hour was recorded Sunday night at Cape Turnagain, on the North Island's East Coast south of Hawke's Bay.
And wind speeds hit 230-kilometres per hour at Mt Hutt ski field in the Canterbury High Country on Saturday night.
In the Wellington region, State Highway Two over the Remutakas was closed - gusts hit 185-kilometres per hour Sunday night.
And falling trees have taken out powerlines as they went, cutting power to thousands of homes.
Metservice meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.