A state of emergency has been declared and mandatory evacuations carried out in the West Coast's Buller District after the region was lashed by record rainfall overnight.
Civil Defence on Thursday afternoon asked residents in low-lying areas of Westport, Carter's Beach and Snodgrass Rd to self-evacuate due to the Buller River rising to dangerous levels - standing at 11.4m on Thursday afternoon.
The local defence controller Bob Dickson said weather conditions are looking calmer and they are expecting the water to start to recede, but he urges there is no time for complacency.
"There are still some significant challenges ahead of us... That is a new reality we are living in and adaptation is the key. People, be prepared."
Buller Emergency Management are now expecting the Buller River to peak at 10pm.
Police are patrolling affected areas and Fire and Emergency NZ are pumping water out of the Westport Hospital basement.
Emergency staff are checking evacuated areas to identify addresses safe for residents to return to.
"We do not wish to keep residents in evacuation centers unnecessarily, but we also do not want to compromise their safety," Buller Emergency Management said in a statement.
Buller District Mayor Jamie Cleine said houses are getting wet and this is a "property damaged real event".
An emergency mobile alert is being issued to residents instructing locals to evacuate.
Local Defence Controller Bob Dickson says evacuation centres have been set up.
"An evacuation centre has been set up at Sergeants Hill Hall, South School Hall, Waimangaro Hall, and Carters Beach Moter Camp for people who can’t stay with family or friends on high ground outside of the evacuation zones," he says.
If your house is within the evacuation zone this means you must go to higher ground and seek alternative accommodation such as staying with family or friends outside of the evacuation zones.
"Everyone in low lying areas affected recently is advised to put evacuation plans into place: Take your grab bags and pets, remember your medications and check in on your neighbours," Civil Defence says.
"Remember, if you are asked to evacuate it is because emergency management authorities believe there is a potential risk to you and your homes."
The mandatory evacuation order was extended as of 5:54 pm on Thursday due to previous rainfall in the upper catchment still making its way down the Buller River. The river is expected to peak in a few hours.
According to Buller Emergency Management, the sewer system is not working in some areas. Locals are urged to minimise sewer use during this time and treat all stormwater as potentially contaminated.
Evacuees are recommended to leave their toilet lids closed with a heavy object on top prior to leaving the house.
Dickson said the rainfall was a lot more than expected and has left the district isolated given the number of road closures.
"This event was not forecast to have the impacts it has had but the emergency response is in hand, and the emergency operations centre is here to help those who cannot help themselves.
"Due to our current isolation, we don't currently have the additional resource present in the district last week. We encourage people to help themselves and their neighbours.
"Anyone who needs special assistance should contact the emergency operations centre on 0800 234 533.”
Civil Defence earlier announced evacuation centres had been prepared should they be required.
"Currently all state highways into and out of Buller are closed," Mayor Cleine said.
He said a number of helicopters are doing road assessments and there have been a number of slips.
The Karamea Highway will remain closed overnight and will be reviewed Friday morning, after an unstable slip.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said crews have been out since early on Thursday assessing the roading damage.
"People travelling between Christchurch and Nelson will need to detour via Blenheim, and are advised that there are multiple sections of State Highway 6 reduced to a single lane between Blenheim and Nelson from storm damage sustained over the weekend," NZTA said in a statement.
"Motorists are advised to take extra care as we enter an unsettled period of weather over the next few days and stay up to date as road closures can quickly happen with the West Coast and Tasman regions already saturated from the weekend's storm."
MetService says the record-breaking rain in the region is expected to ease on Thursday afternoon.
