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Roads are under water and bridges have been washed away in the lower South Island after heavy rains overnight caused rivers to overflow.
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The heavy rain during the night caused the rivers to overflow. Source: 1 NEWS
The slips blocking the main roads have caused long lines of traffic, with many tourists stuck in Otago and Southland.
Several state highways are closed and motorists are urged to avoid the areas and delay travel; more rain is forecast tonight.
In northern and central Otago, campers who could move were urged to reach higher ground as waterways continue to rise.
A caravan almost left the flooded Duntroon Domain before locals came to the rescue, towing it with a tractor.
Part of the bridge across the Kyeburn River has been destroyed by flooding, washed away by rushing waters.
Motorists were trapped on the other side of the bridge on Scott Lane.
Parts of Kurow are flooded and locals say a river in Livingstone didn’t even flow two weeks ago.
A severe weather advisory has been extended into early morning and more rain is expected to fall in already soggy areas, and thunderstorms are also forecast for both the North Island and the South Island.
But for farmer James Becker in Patearoa, the rainy weather has a silver lining.
“This is fantastic, we have been very dry so far … it is exactly what we need,” he told 1 NEWS.
