Severe weather warnings across central and southern New Zealand mean a rough start to the school holidays

Wellington, Wairarapa, and most of the South Island face orange weather watches from 10 tonight until tomorrow night.

There's a red wind warning for the Canterbury high country.

Waka Kotahi says people should avoid travel.

KiwiRail's cancelled its TranzAlpine services, and Air New Zealand's advising passengers to keep an eye on its app and website for updates.

Canterbury Emergency Management Group Controller Phil McKay says people should stay home.

He says the strength of these winds is significant, and it's a bigger windstorm than they would normally expect.