A night of wild wind has downed powerlines and trees, and fanned scrub fires along the South Island's east coast. Severe, orange weather warnings are in place today, with strong northwest gales in exposed parts of Wairarapa, Marlborough, Wellington and Canterbury; and there's heavy rain forecast for the South Island's west coast. RNZ reporter Rachel Graham has been in Glentui, about an hour's drive north-west of Christchurch.