Gale-force west-to-southwest winds will batter much of the country on Saturday, but conditions are expected to ease during Sunday.
MetService has strong wind warnings in place for Hawke's Bay, Tararua District, Dunedin, Clutha and Southland, with gusts expected to reach up to 120km/h in exposed places.
Strong wind watches were in place for Coromandel, Bay of Plenty west of Edgecumbe, Hawke's Bay south of Wairoa and north of Hastings, Buller, Grey District, Tasman and parts of Otago.
A severe thunderstorm was also possible for the Buller and Grey regions.
While no warning was in place for Auckland, Pro-Palestine protesters on Friday said they were abandoning a planned march across the Auckland Harbour Bridge on Saturday due to high winds.
MetService forecast gusts of up to 70km/h across the Auckland Harbour Bridge at the time of the march.
Organisers said the high winds meant it would be too dangerous to walk across the bridge. The protest will instead start at Aotea Square at 9.30am and make its way through the CBD before finishing at Victoria Park.
Meanwhile, snowfall on the high roads of the South Island could make conditions treacherous for motorists.
Road snowfall warnings were in place for upper parts of the Arthurs, Haast, Lewis and Lindis Passes, as well as the Crown Range and Milford Roads.
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