Wild weather is testing the endurance of Southland residents with fire and floods causing chaos across the region.
A day of heavy rain has caused flooding throughout the lower half of the South Island, and inundated some houses in Invercargill.
Southland mayor Gary Tong says people are trying to stay positive - but really, they're over it.
"Everyone's been keeping a smile on their faces but we're over it," he told Newshub.
"It can disappear whenever it likes."
The Southland Civil Defence Controller Angus McKay told NZME there had been flooding in rural areas and in towns from the Riverton-Otautau area across through Winton, Mokoreta, Wyndham, Gore, Fortrose and Tokanui.
Tong says the "pockets" of flooding throughout the region have made it difficult to travel - and there's no indication of what the clean up will be like.
"There's a number of roads that are impassable and we'll see what the clean up is when this rain disappears."
On Monday, Invercargill is forecast to be dry - but overnight more rain is expected to strike the already-sodden region.
There's also a strong wind warning in place - gales are forecast to tear across Southland at 120km/h, potentially downing powerlines and trees.
The wind could also have a disastrous impact for the devastating fire burning out of control at Lake Ōhau, near Twizel. The blaze, which began on Sunday, has already damaged or destroyed 20 homes in the village.
Federated Farmers High Country pastoral chair Simon Williamson said livestock will have perished in the blaze.
"I do hear that there have been more and more lifestyle blocks up around there that the fire's gone through that there are some pretty badly singed-up animals," he told Newshub on Sunday.
"Until we've been up there and had a bit of a look we won't know the broader details on that yet.
Eleven helicopters and nine ground crews will continue to battle the blaze - but the high winds and lack of rain means emergency services have their work cut out for them.
