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Southlanders have been on high alert for more flooding Thursday night, after more than a dozen Southland rivers set off warnings.
A heavy band of rain is slowly moving up the country, saturating the region.
A regional state of emergency was declared at six-o'clock Thursday night.
Welfare centres were set up at the Otautau Sports Centre where the river was expected to rise to bridge height, at the Croydon Lodge in Gore, and the Mataura Community Centre.
Water tankers were sent to Tuatapere where the water treatment plant flooded and stopped working - leaving just eight hours' worth or water in town's reservoir.
Despite the rain easing, river levels are still high.
Environment Southland flood duty officer Darren May spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.