The weather in South Wairarapa caused several roads to closed due to flooding and slips. Photo / Supplied via Wairarapa Times-Age
The weather in South Wairarapa caused several roads to closed due to flooding and slips. Photo / Supplied via Wairarapa Times-Age
Livestock contamination from farm run-off following recent floods is a hygiene risk in parts of Gisborne, Civil Defence authorities say.
Elsewhere, forecasters are warning some areas recently hit with heavy rain could expect more downpours today.
Gisborne Civil Defence emergency manager Louise Bennett said residents could safely clean up properties as long as normal hygiene procedures were followed.
An aerial view of flooding near Gisborne. Photo / Supplied via Joseph Bagrie
Contrary to some earlier advice local contractors provided, no sewage was discharged from the Graham Rd area, Civil Defence said.
The wet weather earlier this week prompted the Insurance and Savings Ombudsman to advise flood-stricken east coast residents to contact their insurance company before cleaning up.
Kate Stichova in the basement after the Waimata River flooded into her home. Photo / Supplied via Gisborne Herald
Monday's torrential rain in Gisborne and Wairoa, where up to 200mm fell in 24 hours, left about 50 homes inundated with water.
Ombudsman Karen Stevens said it was stressful time for those affected, but contacting insurance companies now would save problems later.
"The biggest mistake is cleaning up the damage before they contact the insurer and then have no evidence of the items that they have lost or the items that they've thrown away that were damaged."
Flooding in Gisborne. Photo / Supplied via Rebecca Chambers
Meanwhile, heavy rain was falling in Marlborough but WeatherWatch forecasters expected the downpours to ease around coastal parts of the region.
At 8am today, Marlborough was experiencing the heaviest rain in the country.
WeatherWatch said rising rivers and slips could present hazards there in the next few hours.
Further north, rain was returning to Hawkes Bay following recent downpours.
WeatherWatch said the Spring Equinox, happening tonight, was usually a time of year for many westerlies and was the true technical start of spring.
From tomorrow, days would become longer than nights. Daylight savings time begins again this year overnight Sunday.
Earlier today, strong winds and heavy rain lashed parts of New Zealand.
WeatherWatch said centres around the Cook Strait would likely feel the brunt of strong southwesterly winds pushing through the channel. Gusts were also expected to hit southern Taranaki.
On the other side of the North Island, coastal Wairarapa and possibly areas of southern Hawkes Bay were told to expect strong to gusty southeasterlies.
In the cities, Auckland will get the odd shower, especially later, with brisk southwesterly winds and temperatures in the high teens.
