Outlook brighter for Queenstown

Flood alert: A rogue wave crashes on to the boardwalk in Queenstown. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Lake Wakatipu's brimming water level rose no further overnight and dropped slightly today, easing the immediate risk of flooding in Queenstown.

Several houses were evacuated and businesses sandbagged their doorways as the lake continued to rise late in the week, threatening low-lying areas of the southern resort and nearby towns.

Otago Regional Council spokesman Gavin Palmer said lake levels were down 2.5 centimetres, sitting now at 311.455 metres, but warned it was too soon to say whether it was the start of a downward trend.

Mr Palmer said the drop could be attributed to slop on the lake, but if the downward trend continued into tomorrow it could be taken as an indication the water level has begun to recede.

He said he would feel more comfortable once it had dropped in the vicinity of 10 centimetres.

The lake level was expected to peak at 6am today, but hadn't risen much between midnight and 6am, he said.

Rainfall expected in Queenstown was not likely to be significant enough to cause the lake to rise as rapidly as it had in recent days, but up to 30mm of rain was expected on Monday, mostly centred off the West Coast, council director of environmental information John Threlfall told the Southland Times.

It was likely the lake would remain high for several days, but without further rainfall it could recede below flood warning level in over a week's time.

Lake Wanaka also continued to rise yesterday but remained under the flood alert level.

Queenstown Lakes mayor Clive Geddes said it was "business as usual" in Queenstown yesterday because the flooding was only affecting a small area.

Although "quite a few" businesses were closed, many could begin to reopen during the next few days.

The airport and other core infrastructure were not affected and most tourism businesses were operating.

Meanwhile, overseas tourists spotted diving into the almost-flooded lake early yesterday morning were described as "dumb" by Queenstown harbourmaster Marty Black.

A group of about 12 backpackers were seen stripping down to their underwear and diving into the lake at 3am on Friday.

Mr Black said the possibility the group had been drinking made their actions "even dumber".

"The likelihood of hitting a submerged pier or floating debris in these kind of conditions is very high, and I really think this kind of behaviour is just plain stupid," he said.

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB