Water pumps are being deployed in Christchurch as the city braces for more heavy rain.
The Heathcote River overflowed in Christchurch last week. Photo: RNZ / Logan Church
It comes only a week after rain flooded some parts of the city, with at least one pump, on Maces Road, struggling to hold back rising floodwater.
Parts of the city, particularly along the Heathcote River, regularly flood during heavy rain.
Christchurch City Council city services manager David Adamson said the area was expected to get up to 60mm of rain over the next few days, and flooding was possible.
He said temporary water pumps had been deployed to flood-prone Flockton, Maces and Ebbtide Roads as a precaution.
However, flooding was unlikely to reach levels seen last week as tides were unlikely to be as high, he said.
Contractors were clearing stormwater drains across the city ahead of the rain, Mr Adamson said.
MetService said there would be periods of heavy rain in Westland and Buller until early Friday with up to 170mm expected to accumulate.
It said there was also likely to be rain in much of the north and centre of the South Island.