Storm stricken regions facing more wind and rain

10.00am

Residents and civil defence staff in flood-ravaged parts of the lower North Island are today bracing themselves for more high winds and heavy rain.

Yesterday was the first complete day of sunshine across the lower North Island after almost a week of heavy rain and flooding that forced thousands of evacuations, but the MetService said today more heavy rain and gale force winds were on their way.

MetService forecaster Geoff Sanders told NZPA up to 80mm of rain was likely to fall on the Tararua Ranges and Mt Taranaki in the 12 hours from 9am today.

Low lying areas in the lower North Island could expect about 20mm, he said.

However, compounding potential problems were severe gale force winds gusting to 120km/h across Taranaki, Manawatu, Wellington, Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay.

Golden Bay and the West Coast at the top of the South Island were likely to receive up to 100mm of rain, he said.

But there was some good news today for flood-stricken regions.

The area around the Horowhenua town of Foxton escaped a second round of flooding last night, with the Manawatu River level staying below its banks despite an especially big high tide.

Earlier this week the river breached its banks forcing the evacuation of about 50 homes.

Mr Sanders said it was also good news that the northwesterly front that would hit today had weakened significantly from what was forecast earlier in the week.

Midweek, forecasters were predicting up to 40mm of rain across the lower lying areas of the lower North Island.

Mr Sanders said the most dangerous factors of the current front would be the extremely high winds which could uproot trees heightening the chances of slips and high rainfall in river catchment areas in the ranges.

Manawatu District Council civil defence staff would monitor the rainfall and its effects throughout the day, staff told National Radio.

The town of Feilding, in Manawatu, was one of the areas worst affected by flooding from several days of heavy rain which began falling last Sunday. More than 100 people were forced to evacuate their homes.

In total about 2400 people in south Taranaki, Manawatu and Wanganui districts were evacuated from their homes since Sunday. Up to 1000 are still unable to return to their properties.

Local authorities in the areas have described the floods as the most devastating in over 100 years. The cost of the floods is expected to top $100 million.

A regional state of emergency across the Manawatu, Rangitikei and Wanganui districts will stay in force until at least Monday, when it will be reviewed.

The Manawatu Gorge and State Highway 4 between Wanganui and Raetahi are among many roads in the region still closed.

Many rural communities are still without power and telephones. Civil defence staff are still trying to get generators to isolated areas where it will remain some days before power is restored.

Manawatu area councils have estimated the cost of damage to roading at between $15 million and $16 million, with 16 bridges lost.

The main trunk rail line between Auckland and Wellington is closed but the Auckland-Palmerston North line was due to reopen by midday today and freight trains will then run to Wellington via the Wairarapa.

Passenger services between Auckland and Wellington have been suspended until next week.

River levels have peaked in most places in the flood-stricken areas and were dropping this morning.

In rural areas about 15,000 cows have been moved off to other areas as farms and milking sheds were inundated.

Many farmers were unable to move around their farms yet but stock losses were reported as minimal so far.

One stop welfare "shops" had been set up to deal with any welfare needs at Foxton, Marton, Bulls and Feilding with representatives from Work and Income, Housing Corporation and Child Youth and Family based at existing Work and Income offices.

Civil Defence Minister George Hawkins said the Government would pay a "significant part" of the clean-up and repair bill.

- NZPA