More residents have been ordered to leave their homes as severe flooding continues across Kaikōura, where a local state of emergency remains in effect.
According to a report by Stuff, Kaikōura District Council has expanded evacuation orders to include people living in the upper Red Swamp area, from Mill Rd through to Red Swamp, as well as residents in West End, Green Lane and Ludstone Rd.
Authorities say the Kōwhai River has overflowed its banks, prompting crews to build additional stopbanks while more heavy rain is forecast. Residents are being encouraged to move to higher ground if they feel unsafe rather than waiting for an official evacuation notice.
State Highway 1 remains closed both north and south of Kaikōura, with traffic being turned back at Mangamaunu. Officials are urging the public to avoid travel unless necessary, Stuff has reported.
Volunteer rescue teams have been assisting with evacuations, monitoring flooded areas and providing updates throughout the day. NZ-RT11 said its crews began work early, checking roads, helping residents leave affected properties and supporting the Kaikōura District Council's emergency response before briefly stopping to refuel, as reported by Stuff.
The severe weather has dumped extraordinary rainfall across the upper South Island. MetService reported around 230mm of rain in the Kaikōura Ranges, approximately 100mm in Kaikōura township, 163mm in Picton and about 60mm in Blenheim over the past 24 hours.
Kaikōura has already received more rainfall in one day than its average for the entire month, while Picton is nearing the same level, as reported by Stuff.
A Red Heavy Rain Warning remains in force for eastern Marlborough and upper Canterbury until 6 am Wednesday, with authorities warning of flooding, landslides, power outages and dangerous travel conditions.
Kaikōura Healthcare has advised residents to remain at home unless evacuating and to prepare for possible power outages by keeping medications, inhalers and emergency grab bags ready. Patients with Wednesday appointments will be contacted regarding telehealth or in-person consultations.
"Urgent care services remain available throughout the weather event," the healthcare provider said, urging anyone facing an emergency to call 111, as quoted by Stuff.
Elsewhere, a landslide forced residents to evacuate a home on Tay St in Oamaru after heavy rain triggered ground movement. Fire and Emergency New Zealand confirmed everyone left safely, and building inspectors will assess the property.
Emergency authorities are reminding residents to watch for warning signs of landslides, including cracks in the ground, leaning trees or fences, sticking doors and windows, and small slips on hillsides, as reported by Stuff.
Flooding has also inundated parts of Blenheim, where businesses and residential properties have been affected. Images shared by A1 Contracting Marlborough showed its yard submerged, describing the town as “getting a proper soaking,” Stuff has quoted.
In the upper Puhi Puhi Valley, residents say they have been cut off from Kaikōura due to flooding, slips and road washouts. Operators at Kaikōura Wilderness Experience said they remained well supplied with food and water but were concerned for other communities affected by the storm, as reported by Stuff.
As the weather system moves north, Taranaki Civil Defence is urging residents to prepare for strong winds expected from Wednesday night into Thursday by securing outdoor items and preparing for possible power outages.
Meanwhile, New World Kaikōura announced it would close early at 4 pm due to the severe weather.
"We're continuing to work closely with the store and suppliers to help keep essential goods flowing into the community where possible. A delivery was made to the store this morning, so it is well supplied with essentials," a spokesperson said, as quoted by Stuff.
"Our teams are working closely with transport partners and local authorities as the situation develops.
"Across the South Island, Foodstuffs South Island has been working hard to keep stores supplied as floods and snow have impacted roads and communities. This includes adjusting delivery schedules, re-routing trucks where possible and closely monitoring road and weather conditions to ensure stores in affected communities remain stocked with essentials," they said, as quoted by Stuff.
Floodwaters have also spread across paddocks in Cheviot as persistent rain continues across North Canterbury.
The severe weather system, described by MetService as a "prolonged rainfall event", continues to move north, with red and orange weather warnings remaining in place across affected regions, as quoted by Stuff.
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