Heavy rain continues to fall in Canterbury, raising fears of further evacuations and flooding, particularly in Ashburton where half of the town's residents are preparing to leave their homes.
About 70 residents of Selwyn Huts have been asked to evacuate as rising river levels threaten to cut off access to the settlement.
Selwyn District Council
Brown said he had never seen the river as high as it is in his life. Acting Minister for Emergency Management Kris Faafoi said plans were being made for evacuations in Asburton, if they are needed. Homes would be evacuated during daylight if required, rather than overnight, he said.
CHARLIE O MANNIN/Stuff
Floodwaters from the Waihi River pour across a property at Winchester in South Canterbury.
Rescues and evacuations are under way across Canterbury as heavy rain batters the region causing widespread flooding and power outages. More than 200 millimetres of rain has already fallen in parts of the Canterbury High Country since Saturday afternoon and as much is predicted to fall again by Monday morning.
A state of emergency has been declared for the entire region of Canterbury in New Zealand following torrential rain and flooding. Evacuation notices have been issued in Waimakariri District. The Waimakariri River and Ashley Rakahuri regional.