Watch: Canterbury man's daring helicopter rescue of flood-stranded tractor

A Canterbury man has gone to extraordinary lengths to rescue his tractor, which was left stranded in flooded farmland.

One-in-20-year flooding of the Rangitata River prompted a state of emergency, forcing evacuation notices for both people and livestock.

Fencing contractor Adam Graham's tractor was left isolated in the floodwaters, so he arranged to be choppered in to retrieve it.

Watch the video.