Heavy downpours in the South Island have washed out a bridge as the tail-end of a wild weather front is still being felt.
Locals and holidaymakers in north Otago's Waitaki District were woken to burst river banks just after midnight on Tuesday, prompting some evacuations.
Despite heavy rain and strong wind warnings set to lapse on Tuesday afternoon, rising river levels are causing serious concern.
State Highway 8 between Omarama and Tarras, SH6 between Lake Hawea and Haast, SH94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound, SH80 to Aoraki/Mt Cook and SH83 between Omarama and Kurow, and SH77 at Mt Hutt between Blackford and Mt Hutt Station Rds were closed.
Photos also show the bridge on Lake Ōhau Rd near Twizel washed out in the wet, cutting off the entire Ōhau village.
"Civil Defence has been in touch with village and lodge representatives this morning," the Waitaki District Council said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon. Telecommunications are available and Network Waitaki has confirmed there is currently power available.
"Our priority continues to ensure that residents and visitors welfare needs are looked after and to reinstate access as soon as possible."
Boil water notices have also been issued throughout the Waitaki District.
"Consumers on the Otematata and Omarama water supplies have been advised to boil and conserve all drinking water until further notice," the council said. "This includes water used for food preparation and hygiene purposes such as brushing teeth.
"Consumers on the Windsor water supply have been advised to conserve all water until further notice as the pumps have been turned off due to high flows in the Kakanui River."
Further north in Ashburton, local Civil Defence activated its emergency operations centre at 9am on Tuesday due to multiple road closures caused by flooding.
"[Environment Canterbury] is also monitoring flows in the Rakaia River and will alert South Rakaia Huts residents if they need to evacuate because of rising levels in the lagoon," the Ashburton District Council said in a statement.
Heavy rain warnings remained in place for Canterbury and Westland, and the wild weather was expected to move further up the island throughout Tuesday.
