Authorities keep watch on Lake Wakatipu

Queenstown authorities are keeping a nervous watch on Lake Wakatipu as its water level rises because of the current rainy spell.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council civil defence controller, Phil Dunstan, said: "We're not panicking yet. It's still got another half-metre to go before it triggers a flood alert. If we get more rain we could have a problem."

The lake is still 2.01m lower than it was in November 1999 when floodwaters swept through the town.