Seems like you are getting a fair bashing at the moment. Looks like the SW will be getting a few waves.........

"New Zealand is in the path of one of the biggest storms on the planet which is due to hit today. Strong gales are forecast in many North Island areas and heavy snow in the south. "

"A lot of people thought Thursday was nothing," he said. "But it hasn't even hit yet. It's just going to get gradually worse, it's just kicking in.

"There's going to be a lot of strong winds, lumpy shower clouds, heavy rain and hail and possibly even tornadoes."

The tornadoes were most likely to strike the Taranaki and in Whangarei areas.

In the Sydney papers the headline is a classic..........

New Zealand lashed by storm 'the size of Australia'

A STORM that meteorologists described as being the size of Australia buffeted New Zealand today, prompting severe weather warnings across most of the country.

The official MetService said gale-force winds of up to 130km per hour were lashing some areas, including the capital Wellington, accompanied by heavy rain, lightning and plunging temperatures.