Storms buffet the coast of New Zealand Friday, bringing with them torrential rain, snow and gusting winds that have left parts of the country in turmoil.

Power was cut to thousands of homes in the city of Wellington overnight, leaving the capital at a standstill as public transport, ferries and air services were suspended.

Emergency workers reported hundreds of calls for help as winds of up to 200km per hour forced ships back to shore.

Heavy rains triggered flooding in some areas.

Meanwhile, other parts of New Zealand were blanketed by a thick snowfall, cutting off many remote communities and closing schools... but leaving some to enjoy the unusual weather.