Residents of Selwyn Hutts near Christchurch are evacuated as stop banks fail
Floodwaters in much of Christchurch have started to recede slightly and rain, which has battered the city for much of the day, is expected to ease overnight.
However, near the Heathcote river significant flooding remains and waters are expected to rise again at the next high tide at 3.42am.
Residentsnear the river whose homes flooded after the earthquakes were evacuated earlier today and the Christchurch City Council says for safety reasons evacuees should wait until tomorrow morning before heading home.
In particular residents at Clarendon Terrace, Richardson Terrace, Hunter Terrace, Eastern Terrace, Riverlaw Terrace, Palatine Terrace, Ford Road near Louison Place and Waimea Terrace were expected to be affected, and anybody in low lying areas.
Residents are rescued from their flooded homes in Christchurch after the Heathcote River broke its banks. Photo / AP
The police will patrol areas where people have evacuated.
Those who haven't been evacuated are being told to remain in their homes overnight.
Civil Defence said it was possible more roads would be closed due to slips and so asked road users to check www.ccc.govt.nz/newsline for the latest information on closures.
The authority urged people to stay well away from flood roads and said those who had to drive through water to go carefully and slowly as surges from cars into properties was a concern.
The community and public health service said homes that had flooded would likely be contaminated and those who came into contact with flood water needed to wash thoroughly.
A resident paddles an inflatable canoe in his flooded street in Christchurch. Photo / AP
But water from the tap was safe to drink for those on the city's supply. Tankers were topping up the water supply in Banks Peninsula communities that couldn't get bore supply to make sure there was enough to drink.
To limit waste water everyone in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula should refrain from flushing, washing and showering until waste water pumps could catch up with the increase in inflow, authorities said.
The Civil Defence Centre at Linwood High School has closed for the night but may reopen tomorrow if needed.
Civil Defence had organised accommodation for two people and response teams would be on standby overnight in case more evacuations are needed.
Anyone who was concerned for their safety or needed help to evacuate should call the Council Call Centre on 0800 800 169, Civil Defence said.
Residents were warned that if water was above knee level around their homes, the current could be dangerous, and people should stay in their houses and wait for help.
Earlier, Christchurch residents had been asked to stay home as emergency services become stretched amidst flooding, road closures and ghastly weather.
Civil Defence also issued warnings to Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere residents, as flooding was expected due to high water levels.
A state of emergency was called by the Christchurch City Council on Saturday morning, after the Heathcote River burst its banks on Friday.
Residents around Waimea Terrace walk through the walk through the flooding from the Heathcote River Photo / SNPA / David Alexander
The region had been plagued with heavy rain and surface flooding and many roads are closed throughout the region, including State Highway 75 to Akaroa between Halswell and Little River.
Banks Peninsula is not accessible, following closures to Gebbies Pass and Dyers Pass Rd.
The warning extends to the Selwyn District and is the fourth region in the country to declare an emergency, joining Timaru, Dunedin and Waitaki, following Friday's storm.
Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel announced the move at midday on Saturday as a "precautionary measure" to allow the region to prepare fully for any issues that may arise with the high tide due this afternoon.
At 1pm Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management was warning Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere residents to move stock or evacuate, as weather conditions worsened there.
It said Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere had risen "significantly" and the lake was unable to be opened because of a large swell overtopping the beach.
The lake is the largest in Canterbury and has no outlet to the sea.
Continued rain was only expected to raise the lake's levels and flooding of low lying areas was expected.
Residents in those areas were directed to evacuate if they felt unsafe or anxious, and to move stock.
In the meantime hundreds of residents in Ilam and Riccarton were without power with residents in Redwood and Pirita also reporting outages.
Little River and Akaroa Harbour residents were also asked to conserve water, as supplies became stretched due to dirty stream intakes and longer treatment times.
Wastewater pump stations had flooded and waste water was reported to be flowing on to streets. Residents in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula were asked to limit showering, washing and flushing.
A New Zealand Army truck drives through a flooded street in Christchurch. Photo / AP
Canterbury residents have been asked by police to stay home where possible and avoid unnecessary rubbernecking.
Canterbury police's Senior Sergeant James Bothamley said police had attended a number of incidents where people were only travelling to look at destruction and weather.
"Just please be aware that by heading out in these conditions you could end up taking valuable emergency services away from critical rescue operations," he said.
Senior Sergeant Bothamley said the weather issues were "ongoing" and that surface flooding was creating hazardous conditions for drivers.
"We thank these residents for their ongoing co-operation and the media for continuing to share these messages," he said.
Christchurch City Council was providing regular updates on its website.
Emmett St - from Shirley Rd to Orontes St River Rd - from Banks Ave to Medway St Dyers Pass Rd - from Sign of the Kiwi to Governors Bay Riverlaw Tce - from Tennyson St to Hansons Park New Brighton Rd - from Kingsford St to Lake Terrace Rd Eastern Tce - from Tennyson St to Malcolm Ave Palatine Tce - from Tennyson St to Cashmere Rd Hunter Tce - from Malcolm Ave to Colombo St Waimea Tce - from Colombo St to Malcolm Ave Fifield Tce - From St Martins Rd (Cul de sac) Aynsley Tce - Opawa Rd to Port Hills Rd Aynsley Tce - from Clarendon Tce to Opawa Rd Avonside Dr - from Torlesse Rd to Wainoni Rd Ford Rd - at Louisson Pl Richardson Tce - From Brougham St to Ferry Rd Clarendon Tce - at Brougham St Bridge Cumnor Tce - from Garlands Rd to Marshs Rd Ernlea Tce - from Stour Bridge St to Colombo St
