Clean up begins after flooding

A slip on State Highway Four, north of Whanganui. Photo / Mile Woodward

The heavy rain that caused slips and surface flooding in the lower North Island is expected to stop this afternoon but many roads in the area are still closed.

An updated forecast from the MetService says there will be an end to the heavy rain today, although a further 45mm is expected in the Bay of Plenty ranges.

MetService forecaster Heath Gullery said the warning had been lifted as a front was expected to move away this afternoon causing the rain to ease.

The clean-up has begun after slips, surface flooding and rising river levels yesterday caused dangerous driving conditions and drowned paddocks, forcing farmers to carry stricken stock to higher ground.

A number of schools were also closed and a Civil defence emergency centre was set up at Pahiatua in Tararua district after about a dozen householders had to evacuate their homes because of the rising waters.

Gale force winds also swept through the Wairarapa and Manawatu regions.

The worst of the weather was over and the outlook for the next couple of days was for dry sunny breaks, a few light showers and light winds, Metservice forecaster Leigh Matheson said earlier.

"The area can expect an improvement and no issues with further rising river levels. The event has passed."

Many highways remained closed this morning because of the flooding which caused slips and overflowing paddocks to spill over on to the roads.

State Highway 3 at Marybank near Whanganui is closed and a detour is in place and SH 53 between Martinborough and Featherston in the Wairarapa is closed.

Both are affected by flooding.

SH 1 Calico Line at Marton is closed and detours are in place and the Manawatu Gorge is closed because of slips and flooding.

Further north, a slip has closed State Highway Three, south of Mokau.

Police report that the road is completely blocked 3km south of Mokau and a geologist has been called to check the safety of the road.

Police are warning motorists that there will be extensive delays.

A few smaller roads are affected by small slips and flooding cautions are in place.

Police urged people to drive with caution and to the conditions.

- NZPA