It was restless night for many, with 19-thousand lightening strikes hitting the North Island and many in the south waking up to snow

Southland, Clutha and Kaikoura remain under a state of emergency - with thousands still without power.

Heavy snow has closed several South Island roads, including State Highway 1 from Dunedin to Palmerston.

MetService's Head of Weather News, Heather Keats says the snow will continue into this morning.

She says most of the watches and warnings are expiring, with heavy rain in the eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty taking a little longer to clear.