River levels have eased but people are still being urged to avoid non-essential travel in parts of the West Coast as heavy rain causes flooding, slips and rockfalls, with a section of one state highway closed and others impacted.
SH7’s Rahu Saddle between Springs Junction and Reefton was closed due to flooding as of 12.20pm, and motorists need to take care on State Highways 6, 7 and 73, NZ Transport Agency wrote on X.
UPDATE 12:20PM
— NZ Transport Agency - Canterbury & West Coast (@nztacwc) October 9, 2025
Due to flooding, SH7 Rahu Saddle is now CLOSED. Consider using an alternative route or delaying your journey if possible. ^SG https://t.co/qLCTnnv0bw pic.twitter.com/nEQLQLKpPu
The Grey District Council activated its emergency operations centre at 11am, saying in a Facebook post that “floodwaters are rising quickly”, but by 11.30am the Ahaura River had started to plateau and the [Grey River catchment at] Waipuna was falling.
However, people should still avoid non-essential travel “as water in the backcountry moves towards the coast”, the council said at 1pm.
“We are unsure what the floodwaters moving down river will mean for the Stillwater underpass, Coal Creek etc”, they added half an hour later.
“If you’re undercertain consider heading home early.”
Authorities wrote earlier that both the Ahaura and Waipuna catchments had received heavy rain this morning, and that if people were in a flood-prone area and felt uncertain “you may need to self-evacuate”.
They were watching Atarau, Dobson, Moana, Stillwater and Ahaura closely, the council wrote.
Awahono School at Ahaura had already sent pupils home, and West Coast Emergency Management group manager Claire Brown said as a precaution schools were being contacted as water levels rose at Coal Creek and Kaiata, ahead of school bus runs this afternoon.
There was also flooding at the Iveagh Bay Underpass, with the bypass route over the rail line opened, as well as at Slately Creek Bridge and between Stillwater and Moana.
NZTA this morning warned motorists to take care on three state highways.
“Area warnings are in place this morning for parts of State Highways 7 and 73 due to surface flooding and slips following a period of heavy rain ... there have also been rockfalls on SH6 near Meybille Bay, north of Punakaiki,” it said at 9.30am.
On SH7, motorists should take extra care when travelling between Lewis Pass and Springs Junction, and between Reefton and Ikamatua, due to surface flooding, NZTA said.
“On SH73 between Arthur’s Pass Village and Kumara Junction, extra care is urged because of flooding and slips.”
MetService still had heavy rain warnings in place for the Buller and Grey Districts, the Westland District about and north of the Glaciers, and the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers from around Mt Cook to Lewis Pass, NZTA said.
Heavy falls are forecast to drench the South Island’s West Coast, bringing up to 350mm of rain to the Buller region.
MetService forecaster Brian Mercer told the Herald the top half of the North Island would experience fine conditions with the occasional shower today.
“For the likes of Bay of Plenty and even Auckland to Northland, though there is the chance for an afternoon shower for those two regions,” he said.
“For the west coast from Waikato down to Taranaki, it’s going to stay fairly cloudy during the day, with a few spots of drizzle.”
SH7 LEWIS PASS TO SPRINGS JUNCTION - FLOODING - 8:30AM
— NZ Transport Agency - Canterbury & West Coast (@nztacwc) October 9, 2025
Due to surface flooding and slips, road users are advised to take extra care when travelling along this route. ^JP pic.twitter.com/fzebuKSc66
Mercer said the North Island’s east coast would experience the finest weather of the day.
“Temperatures are going to be on the relatively warm side,” he said.
“We’re looking at temperatures up to 27C for Napier and Hastings. It’s also going to be very warm overnight with temperatures up to 15C.”
In the South Island, rain is expected from Buller to Fiordland.
🟡Updated Watches and Warnings🟠
— MetService (@MetService) October 9, 2025
Buller and Grey have been upgraded to Orange Heavy Rain Warnings🌧️ It's looking like a wet few days through there
Canterbury High Country has also been upped to an Orange Warning for Wind💨
Head to https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5 for full details pic.twitter.com/dYNfGFZ7wI
“There are going to be heavy falls around Buller and Westland, and the Grey District,” Mercer said.
“During the morning, the rain will ease to showers from Fiordland to Buller.”
Heavy rain warnings are in place for the Westland District, headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers, and the Grey District until late morning, where between 120mm and 160mm is forecast to fall.
A heavy rain watch is in place for the Buller District until 1pm tomorrow.
“Expect 250 to 350 mm of rain, especially about the ranges. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h expected Friday and Saturday mornings.”
A strong wind watch is in place for the Canterbury high country until 7am, with severe gale northwesterlies gusting 120km/h in exposed places forecast.
Cloudy conditions with occasional showers are forecast for the North Island tomorrow.
“It should be pretty dry for the East Coast down from Gisborne down to Wairarapa,” Mercer said.
“[There will be] scattered rain in the other parts.”
Mercer said rain would become widespread throughout the North Island on Sunday.
“There will possibly be some heavy falls later in the day, particularly about the ranges.”
Rain and showers are forecast to continue on the West Coast of the South Island on Saturday.
“Possible heavy falls particularly about the Buller area, but there is that risk of heavy falls on the whole West Coast,” Mercer said.
“About the east coast and including Central Otago, it’s going to be quite fine on Saturday.”
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