More rain is forecast for much of the country going into the weekend, including the already drenched West Coast's Buller district which is in a state of emergency.
Infrastructure damage caused in Waimangaroa by a slip Photo: BULLER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Tropical Cyclone Dovi, which passed over New Caledonia and Vanuatu earlier this week, is set to approach New Zealand from the northwest this Friday.
MetService said heavy rain was expected to start affecting central New Zealand from Friday afternoon, while gales were expected over the weekend for central and northern parts of the country.
A heavy rain warning is place from tonight for Taranaki, Tasman west of Motueka, Horowhenua and Kapiti, Marlborough Sounds, Tararua Range, Wellington and Wairarapa (excluding the Tararua District).
A strong wind watch is in place over the weekend for Northland and Auckland, including Great Barrier Island, Wellington, Marlborough Sounds, Tasman, and Buller.
Buller residents prepare for more rain
People in flood-prone parts of the Buller district are on edge yet again, with another round of heavy rain forecast in the ranges over the weekend.
The region remains in a state of emergency today, after 121 residents from Westport and the surrounding areas spent last night in evacuation centres.
The resident's safety is paramount, Civil Defence Controller Bob Dickson said.
"We do not wish to keep residents in evacuation centres unnecessarily, but we also do not want to compromise their safety.
"It is a stressful time for our community, but unfortunately this is the new reality that we're living in and we need to be prepared; there's more change coming, potentially over the weekend ahead..." he said.
Dickson encouraged residents to take steps to look after themselves and to keep an eye on friends, whānau, neighbours and pets.
Satellite imagery of cyclone Dovi approaching New Zealand. Photo: Japan Meteorological Agency
All evacuation centres are currently closed but are on stand-by to be opened again over the weekend if needed.
Civil Defence's West Coast controller Te Aroha Cook told Midday Report officials are bracing for more rain and wind from Cyclone Dovi.
Most people had been able to return home from the evacuation centres, but a few may need temporary accommodation, Cook said.
They were still waiting for roads to open to do assessments in the Reefton area and Northern Buller.
The New Zealand Defence Force has also sent personnel to the West Coast to help with the emergency response efforts.
Houses, roads, stormwater damaged
Rapid assessments of structures in Westport were carried out by council building inspectors today.
There were concerns the rain would result in flooding worse than last July when hundreds of homes in Westport were damaged, and some left unliveable.
Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine estimated that homes that may need to be red-stickered as a result would number in the double-digit range.
Although some properties were damaged this time, the water levels have dropped, sparing the town from a major flood.
Buller Emergency Management said there had been "considerable damage" to the district's roading, stormwater and rail infrastructure.
"Significant damage has impacted the areas north of Waimangaroa, and in the upper and lower Buller Gorge, Rahu Saddle, Inangahua, Reefton, and Lewis Pass areas," it said in a statement.
"Farm infrastructure, houses, and access roads on some farms have been impacted, with road closures and surface flooding disrupting milk collection."
The heavy rain has also caused rubbish from the Reefton Landfill site to run downstream.
Cook said rock protection around the closed landfill, on the west of the town next to the Inangahua River, failed in this week's deluge.
Orowaiti River, Westport, after two days of rain on 4 February 2022. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
A Civil Defence spokesperson said the water supplies in Waimangaroa, Inangahua, Reefton and Ngakawau have been affected by flooding.
The Waimangaroa water line has significant damage and an emergency supply is in place.
Large slips on access roads are delaying the assessment of water infrastructure.
Contractors are making repairs where possible, although work is expected to continue throughout the weekend.
Several highways reopen
State Highway 67 from Westport to Cape Foulwind during heavy rain last week. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock
A Civil Defence spokesperson said contractors are working to clear debris on State Highway 67 between Karamea and Mokihinui.
The highway is expected to remain closed until at least tomorrow, after heavy rain triggered more than 30 slips along a 23-kilometre stretch of road.
Residents needing hospital treatment are being airlifted out and helicopters taking tourists out of the region are returning with essential supplies.
"When it does open, the road will be controlled with stop/go signs," the spokesperson said.
State Highway 7 through the Lewis Pass and State Highway 65 from Shenandoah to Springs Junction remain closed too.
As do both the Upper and Lower Buller Gorge Roads on State Highway 6
State Highway 67's Karamea Highway section from Karamea to Mokihinui is also shut.
Repair works on the roads in the Buller and West Coast regions are expected to take several months.
"There is quite extensive damage on the whole network" - Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine
A Waka Kotahi spokesperson said that today rain is clearing and river levels are receding in Westport and the upper part of Buller district, allowing some other roads to be cleared.
State Highway 6 from Westport to Greymouth has re-opened, as has State Highway 7 from Greymouth to Reefton, State Highway 6 from Maruia to Inangahua, and State Highway 69 from Inangahua to Reefton.
The spokesperson advised drivers to use extra caution with surface flooding likely.
Speed restrictions are in place to ensure the safety of road users, they said.
Health services relocated
West Coast District Health Board said health services have been relocated to the Masonic Lodge in Westport, which is open 24/7 for urgent issues.
Staff are also available in Karamea and Ngakawau for those north of Westport, and the medical centre in Reefton remains open.
The Westport vaccination clinic remains closed while the current emergency is responded to.
People are being urged to wear masks indoors, wash hands thoroughly, and treat all flood water as contaminated.
'We're just weary of worrying'
Residents at Powerhouse Road, north of Westport, had to be rescued via helicopter after heavy rain caused floods and blocked access last week. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock
A Westport resident who was forced to leave her home amid rising floodwaters told Morning Report that the constant uncertainty of living in the area was exhausting.
Ruth Vaenga told Morning Report she had barely recovered from evacuating last week before she had to leave again.
"We're just weary of worrying really.
"We took the vehicles out first, and all the furniture was put up high again, because we had just brought it all into the house, which we'd lifted, so we had to do the same thing again, so that's pretty tiring."
"I'm afraid that February has become the month of doom for us" - Westport resident Ruth Vaenga
This time, she said they were not bringing the furniture back down, as they anticipate more rain over the weekend.
"I'm afraid that February has become the month of doom for us.
"February 1st, in 2018 we had cyclone Fehi, and the fourth of this month we had the first evacuation and then yesterday was the second."
She acknowledged that it was hard to predict what was going to happen with the weather, but said they were "absolutely tired" and "just want something done about it"
"I would say especially around where we live, [there should be] no new builds, maybe start moving the town out or do what we did and lift all the buildings up, but I mean that's hugely expensive."
Otherwise, she said, building a wall like they did in Greymouth would save people from the problems of housing insecurity every time the rivers overflowed.