A wintry blast is taking hold in parts of the South Island, and the North Island is next in line

MetService says a low will move across central New Zealand today and early tomorrow, bringing heavy snow and wind.

The heaviest snow is expected in northern Canterbury and southern Marlborough --- and is already blanketing the Crown Range as well as the Porters, Lewis and Burkes passes.

In the North Island, a snow warning's in place for Taihape, Desert Road and Remutaka Hill Road.

Parts of Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough are in for southerly gusts of up to 120 kilometres an hour from later today.