As an extreme 'atmospheric river' continues to dump rain across most of New Zealand, a State of Emergency has been declared in Nelson-Tasman and the West Coast regions. Northland is also affected by flooding. Here's what you need to know.
A submerged tree in the flooded Buller River shows the extent of rising water levels today. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock
The weather event has involved more than 300mm of rain falling across the top of the South Island in 24 hours.
Atmospheric rivers are massive plumes of moisture that move from the tropics to the mid-latitudes. Weather experts describe this week's atmospheric river as an exceptional winter event, long lasting, with a very anomalously large moisture content.
The deluge has so far led to several rivers flooding, causing chaos with slips, road closures and evacuations across several locations.
In Nelson, more than 230 homes have been evacuated after Maitai River burst its banks.
Residents of 160 more homes in Westport asked to leave.
Roughly 20 percent of the homes assessed in Nelson Tasman District have so far been either yellow or red stickered.
Today, Nelson Tasman Civil Defence requested residents near the river from the Nile St Bridge to the Golf Course to leave their homes immediately.
Search and rescue teams are helping people in flooded streets and suburbs, while the army also patrol streets to protect residents against the present threat.
Civil Defence Controller Alec Louverdis said it was between a one in 80 and one in 100 year event.
He advised people to work from home if they could and stay off the roads.
Defence Force personnel have been sent to the Westport, Greymouth and Nelson regions to support in delivering supplies, putting up weather barriers, sandbagging and an evacuation.
There is currently no direct link between Blenheim and Nelson after the closure of State Highway 6.
Heavy rain and red weather warnings remain in place for Nelson, Buller and Westland.
The Aratuna Bridge on Bridge Street, Nelson earlier this afternoon. The river level has dropped significantly since Wednesday's peak but is still in full flood. Photo: Alison Ballance
The government announced this afternoon that it has injected $200,000 into the mayoral relief fund for Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough as the weather causes extensive damages to roads and property across the regions.
Northland flood threat
Further north, residents of Auckland are experiencing heavy rain and strong gusts in the region, with orange warnings in place for the region and for Northland.
Parts of the Far North virtually cut off due to slips and flooding.
Water is covering the main road in Kāeo, and businesses closing up and focusing on protecting their properties as the Kaeo River levels threatens further damage.
Civil Defence spokesperson Zach Woods said the tides were shifting, and Kāeo township was potentially at risk as 140mm of were expected in the next 24 hours.
No homes have been evacuated so far in the region.
Far North district deputy mayor Ann Court said a Civil Defence emergency operation was being set up and evacuations could not been ruled out if conditions worsen.
More than 80 houses were without power in Kāeo after a tree fell in a transmission feeder. Mangamanihi, Omaunu, Pungaere and Waiare roads were affected by the outage.
State Highway 1 is shut because of flooding at the Rangiahua Bridge, north of Kaikohe, along with State Highway 10 at the Kāeo River Bridge.
Heavy rain is expected to continue in parts of the northern half of the North Island and in the northern regions of the South Island, before easing off tonight and tomorrow. Significant rain is also expected in Taranaki and Northland tomorrow, easing over the weekend.
On Thursday late afternoon, Taranaki Civil Defence warned residents of rising rivers in the region and urged people to have a grab bag at the ready.