What you need to know: Travel disruption, flooding and evacuations as severe weather hits New Zealand
Heavy rain is pummelling parts of the country, causing widespread travel disruption, flooding and evacuations.
The top of the South Island is bearing the brunt of the rain, with state of emergencies issued as a result of significant rainfall. Dozens of homes have been evacuated due to rising floodwaters.
Meanwhile, Auckland has been hit by severe thunderstorms and torrential rain.
Here's what you need to know:
A state of emergency has been declared for the Nelson Tasman region as a result of severe weather and evacuations.
Tasman District Council said the declaration will allow agencies to rapidly respond, with slips and flooding across the region and further rain forecast.
People are being evacuated in Brightwater and Upper Moutere and residents in Riwaka might need to leave.
A local state of emergency is also in place for part of Marlborough, where 60 households in Spring Creek near Blenheim were ordered to evacuate because of fears a Wairau River stopbank might not hold.
Flooding over Brightwater, Tasman district.
Photo:
Charlotte Bacon / supplied
MetService has issued several severe weather warnings and watches across the country.
Parts of Northland and Auckland are under a severe thunderstorm warning. The thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain.
Meanwhile, a heavy snow watch has been issued for Central Otago, Southland north of Lumsden, also inland Dunedin and Clutha until noon Saturday.
Orange heavy rain warnings:
Heavy rain watches:
The top of the South Island is cut off at the moment with a number of state highways closed.
NZ Transport Agency is warning drivers to be prepared for wet weather driving and to take extra care on the roads.
Here is a list of the highways closed:
Roads closed in Marlborough include:
Dozens of domestic flights bound for or departing from Auckland Airport have been cancelled or delayed due to severe weather conditions.
Auckland Airport said 21 flights have been cancelled and 11 flights have been delayed.
It said the weather is mostly impacting flights to or from regional destinations.
The airport also confirmed that a China Eastern Airlines flight from Hangzhou to Auckland has been diverted to Christchurch due to the unsettled weather conditions. China Eastern Airlines also confirmed the diversion.
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