Strong winds forecast to continue as firefighters tackle several bushfires

Both sides of the Cook Strait continue to be lashed by wild weather as a front moves up the country.

While a heavy rain warning for the Grey and Buller districts expires at 6am Tuesday, another remains in place for the Tararua Ranges.

Strong wind warnings cover Marlborough until 8am, Wellington until 9am and Wairarapa through to 11am.

MetService meterologist Devlin Lynden is warning the temperature is also expected to drop for the top of the South and bottom of the North islands, with the northwest winds changing to the south.

Strong winds fan flames

The strong winds fanned the flames of multiple bushfires in separate parts of the country on Monday.

The Defence Force is warning a blaze in the Waiouru military zone could still take hours to be fully extinguished, and may not be out until Tuesday evening.

The large scrub fire was sparked during live fire training on Sunday and has burnt through more than 230 hectares.

It said the blaze, which took hold again on Monday, drew in nine firefighting crews and five helicopters alongside military personnel.

Fire and Emergency said crews were withdrawn from the fire ground overnight, but are expected back on site Tuesday morning.

Footage from motorists travelling on the Desert Road SH1 on Monday showed large plumes of smoke just north of the Waiouru township.

Meanwhile, firefighters down south continued to battle a blaze in the central Otago town of Roxburgh overnight.

Six households were evacuated and more 30 homes remain without power.

At least seven fire crews were working on the blaze - which is thought to have started in trees about 2.45pm Monday - with FENZ saying strong winds have added to the problem.

Crews are also being brought back to work on a scrub fire that has burnt through about 80 hectares in Southland.

The fire started on Sunday afternoon on high-country land in the Centre Hill area.

High winds prevented helicopters from reaching the fire on Monday, and the difficult terrain means ground crews were not able to get there either.

Crews from Southland volunteer brigades and the Department of Conservation with experience in arduous conditions were on Monday night being arranged for Tuesday morning.