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Evacuated families have begun returning to their homes after flooding in the Nelson region during the weekend.
Heavy rain left families in the Tapawera area southwest of Nelson isolated and 22 households were evacuated, some by helicopter, due to flash floods and potential landslides.
Evacuated families initially took refuge at the local rugby club rooms but were placed in homes by 8pm.
The Nelson City Council said this morning that floodwaters had subsided overnight and inspectors would start to assess flood damage.
At least one rural road remains closed and others require inspection due to slips.
Some families had returned to their homes late last night while others would be returning today, the council said.
Engineers anticipated a lot of damage to roads, bridges and culverts in the Waimea catchment, the council said.
A number of areas were affected in the Motueka Valley, from Brooklyn through to Tadmor, including Motueka Valley Highway and Tapawera-Baton Road, which were closed and manned overnight.
Baton Valley Road reopened yesterday afternoon after a slip, while Sherry River Road remained closed near the top end due to flooding.
Motueka West Bank, Kaiteriteri Loop and Riwaka Valley all had minor slips but all were passable that are now mostly cleared, all are passable.
Wangapeka Valley Road, Wangapeka West Bank, the Clark Valley and Baton Saddle all required inspection, the council said.
The Metservice said up to 200mm of rain had fallen in the area during the weekend, but there would only be light showers today and for the next couple of days.
Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Controller Jim Frater said this morning there had been "very little rain" overnight and the Baton and Wangapeka rivers were receding.
Summit rescue helicopter duty pilot Jarrod Colbourne said he had evacuated 13 people and was unaware of any injuries.
"The area had suffered from rivers breaking their banks, as well as mud slides which had brought down logs with them, some of which had taken out sheds, vehicles and one had flowed through a house," Mr Colbourne said.
All residents on the Dovedale water scheme were urged to conserve water for at least 24 hours, after debris affected the intake to their water scheme.
Roads were blocked at Tapawera Baton Road between Twin Bridges and the Motueka Highway has been blocked by a slip.
Nelson Bays police and Civil Defence were yesterday asking people not to attempt to travel through the Motueka Valley.
It was the fourth largest flood on record for the Baton River which received between 13mm and 17mm of rain in a 15 minute period earlier in the day.
- NZPA with NZHERALD STAFF
