All Air New Zealand flights in and out of Invercargill Airport for the rest of the day have been cancelled due to the Antarctic polar blast. 

Invercargill, Dunedin and Queenstown airports are experiencing strong winds, low cloud and snow causing cancellations into and out of these regions. 

This afternoon and evening, there were two flights due to depart from Invercargill for Christchurch and one to Wellington.  

Three flights were scheduled to arrive from Christchurch and one from Wellington. But they are all cancelled.

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The challenging weather is expected to last through to tomorrow and the airline is working through recovery flights for impacted customers. 

Stewart Island Flights 4pm departure and 4.50pm arrival are at this stage still scheduled to operate though, a spokesperson for Stewart Island Flights has confirmed.

Invercargill Airport chief executive Nigel Finnerty says: "There's certainly strong winds and we've had some good hail showers and lightning, a thunderstorm went through in the last hour. 

"If I look out my window now it's pretty clear, but out towards the south west on the horizon it's grey and black. It's coming through in little fronts."

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Air New Zealand is encouraging those booked to travel on affected flights transfer their travel to another date by managing their booking online."

The company's contact centre is currently experiencing a high volume of calls due to the travel pause with Australia contributing to longer wait times. 

An Air New Zealand spokesperson says: "Customers booked to travel domestically today are advised to keep an eye on the Air New Zealand arrivals and departures page for the most up to date flight information.

If travel is not urgent, customers can opt to hold their fares in credit."

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This can be done online.

"The airline thanks customers for their patience while it works through these weather challenges." 

Air New Zealand recommends customers subscribe to the airline’s Travel Alert service to receive ongoing updates.