• Heavy rain in Nelson and Westport has caused significant flooding and Nelson City Council and Buller Emergency Management are urging residents to avoid travel and flooded areas.
• State Highway 6 is closed by slips and flooding; alternative routes are advised.
• Severe gales and heavy rain are forecast as a front moves over southern and central regions.

Heavy downpours in Nelson and Westport today are causing widespread flooding as a weather system moves up the country.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand southern communications centre shift manager Lyn Crossan said there have been more than 20 incidents reported since 10.15am in Nelson, most of them in the area between Washington St in the north and Bishopdale in the south.

“We are prioritising the most urgent incidents first, where there is danger to people’s safety,” Crossan said.

“However, the majority of incidents relate to floodwaters entering property.

“We are strongly advising people to avoid travelling to or through that area this morning.”

Workers on Vanguard St have used vehicles and cones to block the road to stop people driving through floodwaters that have inundated the street, according to the NelsonApp.

Steve Armour, who has worked on Vanguard St for 16 years, says he has never encountered flooding like this in the area.

“People were driving down here creating massive waves that have flooded Salt Gallery, Top of the South Service Centre is submerged in 200-300mm of water and it’s lapping at the doorway of the SPCA store,” he says.

Steve Armour waded out into the water from his Vanguard St store. Photo / Supplied

He says they had to “swear at a few idiots” driving at speed through the flood waters and creating “massive waves”,exacerbating the issues for local businesses.

It was then that he and other business owners from the street used their own vehicles and cones to block off each end of the road.

A local Nelson woman told RNZ that two cows were seen being washed away in the floodwaters.

“[My husband] went to check on our neighbours, then the drains in the road to make sure they weren’t blocked,” Brittany Van de Waardt told RNZ.

“That’s when he saw the two cows in the river. The river is very high and rough at the moment, one of the cows looked to be deceased and was getting tumbled down the river. The other was alive but struggling.

“They were moving too fast for us to do anything.”

She reported the upsetting scene to the council but there was nothing to be done to save the animals.

An update just before 1pm by Nelson City Council said the heavy rain has “overwhelmed” both the Songer St and Saxton Rd pump stations.

“We are monitoring the Monaco Estuary and recommend that no one enters the waters or collects any kai from this area till we know the extent of any possible contamination.”

Meanwhile, the weather front is expected to bring rain and “a low risk” of thunderstorms to western parts of the North Island from Taranaki northwards overnight, a MetService watch issued this morning warns.

“Although the risk of thunderstorms is low, the risk of localised downpours occurring in this area is considered moderate. If they occur, downpours would likely produce rainfall rates of 25 to 40mm/h.

“Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.”

The watch covers Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Waitomo and Taranaki.

Amid the warnings, Auckland Emergency Management has warned those in the Auckland region to be prepared for the impacts of the pending weather.

Severe thunderstorms could hit the region from 5pm today through to 6am Tuesday.

Nelson City Council says it is “actively monitoring” the weather and responding to flooding across the region.

Rutherford St in the city will be closed shortly while urgent repairs are carried out on a manhole, said Alec Louverdis, group manager infrastructure.

“Contractors are currently on site managing the situation,” Louverdis said.

The eBus service is temporarily suspended while routes are assessed for safety and accessibility.

Residents are advised to delay travel if possible.

“If you must drive, please reduce your speed and avoid flooded roads. Please stay clear of floodwaters, which may be contaminated and pose health risks,” Louverdis said.

“The weather front is now moving away from the region, but [the] council will continue to monitor the situation and respond as needed.”

Buller Emergency Management said this morning’s heavy rain, coupled with a high tide, has led to flooding around the West Coast town of Westport.

“Please remember to stay safe – do not attempt to drive through flooded areas.”

Multiple slips and flooding have shut part of State Highway 6 between the Inangahua Junction to the SH6/SH67 Lower Buller Gorge intersections.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said in a post: “Delay your journey or use an alternate route. Next update by early evening or earlier if road conditions change.”

Videos shared on social media show roads completely flooded and coming up to houses and buildings.

Meanwhile, heavy rain overnight in the headwaters of the Waimakariri, Rakaia and Hurunui rivers has prompted Environment Canterbury (ECan) to issue an alpine riverbed alert.

Flows in the upper parts of the Waimakariri River have started to increase while other alpine-fed river flows are expected to rise.

“Beware of increasing flows if you are working or recreating [sic] in these riverbeds,” ECan says.

“Out-of-river flooding from any of these rivers is unlikely.”

MetService has just lifted multiple heavy rain and strong wind watches and warnings, advising that the risk of severe gales in places such as Wellington and Marlborough has now eased.

The West Coast of the South Island took the brunt of the bad weather last night and early this morning.

A front from the Tasman Sea is bringing rain this morning to Taranaki and the Kāpiti Coast, particularly around the ranges, where weather watches are in place.

“As morning turns to evening, rain will spread elsewhere, falling in many parts of the North Island,” MetService said.