Police in Christchurch are warning people to avoid using the roads and to stay at home if possible as snow blankets the city.
Several centimetres of snow settled on the ground on Sunday night and more keeps falling.
[image:2569:full]MetService says snow showers will ease later, but strong cold south westerlies will come in their place.
It is forecasting a minimum of minus 3 degrees C and a maximum of 6 deg C. People who do venture out, are advised to wear at least four layers of clothing.
Police are warning people to take extreme care on the roads and says people should travel only if absolutely necessary.
They say people should contact their employers and ask if it's possible to stay at home.
And the snow will make living conditions and trips to the port-a-loo and shower block even more unbearable for people in areas damaged by the earthquakes.
Many roads around Banks Peninsula are blocked.
Canterbury University is closed for the day because of the snow.
The University of Otago medical campus in Christchurch is also closed.
Runways at Christchurch international airport are covered in snow and ice.
