Heavy rain misses flood-stricken regions

11.45am

Heavy overnight rain skirted flood-stricken areas of the lower North Island and the weather forecast for the rest of the week is good.

Feilding, where schools remain closed and several people are still unable to return to their homes, received 15mm rain overnight.

By contrast, to the north the King Country township of Ohura received 27mm of rain in one hour and 15mm the next hour.

"The bulk of the rain missed the areas already hit by floods," Met Service forecaster Mark Pascoe told NZPA. "The forecast for the affected region is fine for the rest of the week."

Met Service forecasters were keeping a close eye on a tropical cyclone near Vanuatu, Mr Pascoe added.

"It might reach us during the weekend, or it might pass by to the west of us, but it shouldn't affect the flooded regions. Northland is most likely to be getting any rain associated with it."

States of emergency remained in place in many places today, including Manawatu-Wanganui region.

Horizons (Manawatu-Wanganui) Regional Council chairman Chris Lester told NZPA the state of emergency was due to expire at 8pm tonight, and it was unlikely to be renewed.

"The clean-up is continuing right throughout the region. Hopefully stopbank repairs will be able to be continued and we will be able to continue the clean-up in places like Tangimoana and Scotts Ferry."

Tangimoana residents were only able to return home yesterday. Scotts Ferry residents, who evacuated the town at half an hour's notice last Monday, were allowed back in Saturday morning. In the meantime most of the village's 50 houses had more than two metres of flood water through them.

People throughout the region would be pleased predictions of heavy rain last night had not affected them, Mr Lester said.

"There are still many farmers who don't have good access yet and they have a very big task ahead of them. Probably many of them are going to have to wait until roads and farm access tracks are repaired before they can get on with the task ahead of them."

Yesterday the Government said it was rushing money into flood-stricken areas, and work had started on a long-range relief plan to restore viability to ruined farming regions.

"We're writing the cheques right now...we will pay up-front on the estimated costs as we get the assessments," Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday.

Helen Clark said the money involved was "many tens of millions" but she did not want to put a figure on how much the Government will eventually have to pay because it was too early to make final assessments.

"This will run for a long time yet," she said.

"All the immediate response costs are to be reimbursed, we're making funds available as fast as possible."

She cited roading as one of the huge costs facing the Government, as it was picking up the entire bill for repairing state highways and most of the cost of reconstructing district roads.

Predictions have been made flooding costs may top $100 million.

The Government has said it would reimburse local councils for the immediate clean-up costs.

Mr Lester said he felt the Government had recognised the extent of the flooding, and the huge personal and financial impact it had had.

"Probably they're reluctant to be specific about a package at this stage because none of us at this stage are yet completely aware of what the impact and hence the needs of a Government package are.

"They're showing a lot of empathy towards the organisations and the people that have been affected. I'm positive about that."

Donations have been flooding in for various flood relief appeals throughout the country. In South Taranaki the appeal had been going so well organisers had been forced to ask for donations of goods to stop, council spokesman Gerard Langford told NZPA.

"It's just been overwhelming... we have 160 cubic metres (of aid) coming today, a massive truck load, and another couple of truck loads besides. It's been great."

Cash donations were still welcome, Mr Langford added. Donated goods would be distributed to families in need today, he said.

"Apart from that it's business as normal carrying on with the clean-up, working on restoring power and road access and things like that."

More than 100 people in the region remained out of their homes.

Tranz Rail reopened the main trunk line at 12.30am and Masterton-Palmerston North line yesterday, but the Marton-New Plymouth line would be closed for several more days.

Napier-Palmerston North and Wairarapa rail lines reopened Monday night after being closed for a week by flood damage.

Telecom and lines company Powerco were also still working to restore services.

Some major roads remain closed. State Highway 3 through the Manawatu Gorge has suffered four major slips and some bad drop outs, and is not expected to reopen for two weeks.

The highway between Raetihi and Wanganui, and State Highway 54 between Vinegar Hill and Feilding remain blocked, but could be partially open by the end of the week.

- NZPA