11 hours ago
Weather live: Severe weather lashes parts of North Island, flooding, state of emergency in South Island regions
Marlborough Emergency Management has issued a 'be ready to evacuate' warning for residents in the Lower Terrace area in Renwick.
The council's hydrology team had been modelling on a stopbank at the confluence of the Waihopai/Wairau rivers and determined the bank had become unstable, Incident Controller Richard MacNamara said.
This poses a risk of breaking and flooding lower parts of Renwick township (Lower Terrace) and surrounding land adjacent to Gibson's Creek and up to the Waihopai/Wairau confluence.
"We are taking the precaution of advising residents of Lower Terrace to be prepared to evacuate," MacNamara said, adding that the Defence Force, FENZ and Marlborough's Rapid Response team would be door knocking in the area.
Meanwhile, a "significant number" of people in Nelson have chosen to evacuate, according to Nelson Tasman Civil Defence.
"While we did assist some people from their homes there have been a significant number of people who have felt uncomfortable enough that they've self-evacuated," information manager Paul Shattock said.
Smaller rivers were a major area of concern.
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Photo:
Kate Green
