(Corrects typographical error in key word used for media subscribers)

WELLINGTON (Reuters) -Australia and New Zealand face further damaging winds and heat this week, with meteorological agencies on Wednesday warning conditions will deteriorate in coming days.

New Zealand’s forecaster MetService said gusts could reach 150 kilometres an hour (93 miles per hour) along the South Island’s east coast and up to 140 kilometres an hour around Wellington, the capital, on Thursday.

Authorities said people should stay indoors, avoid travel and prepare for possible power and communications outages. The warnings follow strong winds and heavy rain on Tuesday that left thousands without power and killed a man in a Wellington park when a tree branch fell on him.

The weather is a concern for firefighter

See Full Page