Gale force winds that battered Canterbury caused a ship to break its moorings in Lyttelton Harbour.
The cargo ship, carrying 2800 containers, broke its moorings just before 8am on Wednesday and had to be towed away from the port.
The vessel reberthed once the 100km/h winds died down.
The gales were also forecast for Fiordland, Southland and Otago.
