New Zealand on Thursday (May 1) shut schools and roads and grounded flights as the country faces extreme weather, including in its capital Wellington which is facing the strongest winds in more than a decade, according to its government weather agency.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) said average winds speeds have reached as high as 87 kilometres an hour (54 mph) in Wellington, the strongest since 2013, while wind gusts at Baring Head hit 160 kilometres an hour (99 mph). Parts of New Zealand's South Island is also dealing with flooding after 24 hours of heavy rain on Thursday.

A red wind warning, the highest possible, is currently in place. This is the first time Wellington has had a red warning since the system was put in place in 2019.

Victoria University of Wellington, several local schools and the Wellington City Council have all shut for Thursday. While a few flights were able to land and take off at Wellington International airport on Thursday morning, most flights in and out of the airport have been cancelled in the afternoon. Ferries that run between the North and South Island have also been cancelled.