KEY POINTS:
A north Canterbury settlement has been evacuated after the Kahutara River burst its banks.
Canterbury Emergency Coordination Centre Civil Defence duty officer Andrew Howe said the river had not entered the Peketa settlement, just south of Kaikoura, but emergency services were advising residents to evacuate due to the threat of a flood.
Eight to 10 houses had been evacuated by residents and those involved were staying with family and friends, Mr Howe said.
He told NZPA the rain had stopped and they were now waiting to see how much run-off would come down from the hills.
"The rivers appear to have peaked, which is a good thing."
Water supply to Amberley and other parts of the Hurunui district was likely to be out for a week and tankers were being organised to bring in clean water, Mr Howe said.
Farmers were coping well with the weather though some lambs had been lost, he said.
There were a number of road closures in North Canterbury, particularly along the Coastal Highway and Lewis Pass was the only way north.
The Metservice forecast for Eastern Marlborough and North Canterbury said the front which brought the rain was weakening.
Rain had eased and "remaining rain areas of light rain or drizzle should clear during Wednesday morning".
Heavy rain warnings for the area have been lifted.
Ontrack spokesman Kevin Ramshaw said the Main Trunk line would remain closed between Christchurch and Picton due to a major slip near Oaro, south of Kaikoura.
The line was closed following a slip in the same area three weeks ago.
Access to the site today was difficult today because of flooding and the situation would be reassessed tomorrow morning to get an idea of how long it will take to clear the line, Mr Ramshaw said.
"At this point, we expect the line to be closed for at least two days."
The line between Kaikoura and Picton was expected to be open by noon tomorrow and freight services should be able to resume between Picton and Blenheim and to Lake Grassmere.
The Napier-Gisborne Line, which was closed as a precaution after an overnight earthquake near Hastings, re-opened just before 9am today.
In the North Island a major slip, and the threat of another, has closed Kawakawa-Clevedon Rd in Manukau until Friday.
The closure means about 1500 people living in the area will need to continue using a longer alternative route.
A meeting to update the community will be held at 7.30pm tomorrow at Kawakawa Bay Community Hall.
Manukau City Council economic director Rick Walden said another major slip of Turei Hill above the road could happen at any time.
The affected road has been closed since Sunday.
In Wellington, State Highway 2 Rimutaka Hill 's southbound lane on the Featherston side is closed after a slip.
Last night, a slip in Unsworth Heights, Albany, north of Auckland put two properties at "high risk" and emergency services evacuated their residents, Inspector Barry Smalley said.
Emergency services were called to St Mary's Bay, on the southern side of Waitemata Harbour in Auckland, last night after motorists on the Auckland Harbour Bridge saw a tree falling down a cliff into the reserve adjacent to the northern motorway approach to the bridge.
Fire Service northern communications centre spokesman Jaron Phillips said three properties were evacuated as a result. Police said gas and power to the properties had been cut off and Civil Defence had been notified.
AA Roadwatch website reported SH1 from Ward to Cheviot and SH1 near Whales Back was closed.
SH7 from the Hanmer Springs Turnoff to Hanmer Springs was closed but would be open for 10 minutes every hour from 3pm to 6pm.
Caution was advised on SH35 from Tikitiki to Ruatoria, SH31 near Ngutunui, SH37 near Waitomo, SH4 near Mapiu, SH2 near Masterton and SH2 near Clareville due to slips and surface flooding.
- NZPA
