Torrential rain continues to hammer the upper South Island, prompting evacuations, school closures and widespread disruption.
States of emergency have been declared across the top of the South Island.
In Marlborough, people have been asked to stay off the roads, homes and businesses have been flooded and aerial footage shot by a GCH Aviation rescue helicopter showed water across large swathes of land.
The highway west to Nelson was blocked and there were floodwaters over the highway east to Blenheim, but the road was still open, Havelock Hotel owner Ray O’Connell said just before 1pm.
He had a few stranded Nelson-bound motorists at the hotel.
“They’ll be staying here tonight.”
Nelson mayor Nick Smith said a formal state of emergency had also been declared in Nelson and Tasman.
“I am at joint Nelson/Tasman Emergency Management Centre where we have declared a formal State of Emergency in response to the severe weather,” he wrote on Facebook.
“Rivers most under pressure are Moutere and Waiiti in Tasman where experiencing 1:40 year event whereas Maitai flows high (about peak annual) but not threatening.
“Greatest risk for Nelson is landslides with sodden land and further rain forecast. One evacuation in Nelson – several dozen in Tasman.”
Tasman mayor Tim King said evacuations had occurred in the Moutere and Brightwater areas.
“River levels are high, and localised downpours could raise water levels higher, which could trigger the need for further evacuations.”
A Civil Defence Centre has been set up at Motueka Recreation Centre in Old Wharf Rd.
A community-led centre has also been set up at the Moutere Hills Community Centre (1539 Moutere Highway), King said.
“Road closures are in place throughout the region. People are being asked to keep off roads and avoid unnecessary travel.”
Police urged spectators to avoid the Motueka River area near Ngatimoti early this afternoon, where emergency services have the road blocked off.
Heavy rain is forecast to continue at 10-20mm per hour this morning, followed by scattered showers across the weekend.
Smith said that major highways SH6 and SH63 into Marlborough were closed, along with many roads in Tasman, although Nelson had seen less disruption.
“I have just spoken to Minister of Emergency Management Mark Mitchell who has travelled this morning to Marlborough where they have also declared a State of Emergency,” he added.
Mitchell confirmed his arrival in Blenheim via social media.
Fire and Emergency was supporting Civil Defence in both Nelson-Tasman and Marlborough in the response to widespread flooding across the top of the South Island.
Crews were rescuing people trapped in vehicles, assisting with evacuations and pumping water from flooded homes, response coordinator Steve Trigg said.
As at 11.15am, they had responded to 31 calls since 4am today.
Two Fire and Emergency specialist water rescue teams had been sent to Nelson and Blenheim.
Fire and Emergency had also activated its Local Coordination Centre in Nelson to coordinate its response activities across the whole top of the South area.
Trigg warned people not to drive through floodwaters and to respect all “road closed” signs.
“It’s impossible to judge the depth of the water so when people become stranded they are in danger of drowning.”
The specialist water rescue team had already undertaken a rescue from a vehicle in Upper Moutere this morning while other rescues around the top of the South had been carried out by local brigades, he said.
The Dunedin City Council announced it is making necessary preparations while monitoring the weather ahead of predicted heavy rain overnight.
MetService has issued an Orange rain warning for Dunedin, with forecasts of 70mm to 90mm of rain between 9pm tonight and 6pm on Saturday.
“Our contractors have been... clearing mud-tanks and drains in low-lying areas, and key staff are meeting regularly today to consider the latest information,” DCC chief executive Sandy Graham said.
“At this stage, the Dunedin Civil Defence bunker is not activating, and we expect our network will cope with the forecast rain, but we’ll continue to monitor the situation and make further announcements as needed.”
In Marlborough, emergency officials ordered early morning evacuations in parts of Spring Creek due to growing concerns about a compromised section of the Wairau River stopbank.
The affected areas include Dodson, Hathaway and March streets, as well as low-lying properties along Ferry Rd.
Evacuation centres have been established at Stadium 2000 in Blenheim and Tuamātene Marae in Grovetown. Civil Defence is urging residents to stay with friends and family if possible.
“Given the threat to life and property, we are asking people in the area to evacuate immediately,” a spokesperson said.
Civil Defence also said it is working alongside lifeline utilities and emergency services to coordinate the response.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said they have responded to 17 callouts across the top of the South Island.
These have largely involved clearing drains and helping police keep motorists out of floodwaters.
They were called to the Lower Moutere region at 8.30am after reports of a stranded man and his pets, but he was rescued before crews arrived.
Earlier, at 5.05am, a person was trapped in their car in floodwaters on Edwards Rd in Lower Moutere.
Fire and Emergency successfully brought them to safety.
The Hieke Nelson Principals’ Association confirmed that 17 schools across Nelson and Tasman were closed today due to “significant flooding”.
Some early childhood centres are also closed.
“We are working closely with local authorities to monitor the situation. Families are advised to check their school’s communication channels for updates and further instructions. The safety of our communities is our top priority.”
In Blenheim, the sewer network has become overloaded due to the heavy rainfall. Marlborough District Council is urging residents in Dillon St, Leefield St, Houldsworth St, Muller Rd and Stuart St to avoid flushing toilets unless necessary, limit water usage, and avoid contact with floodwaters due to raw sewage contamination.
MetService has issued orange heavy rain warnings for much of the upper South Island, including Marlborough, Nelson and Tasman.
Some areas may exceed monthly rainfall totals by Friday, with a high risk of surface flooding, slips and fast-rising rivers.
SH6 LOWER BULLER GORGE TO INANGAHUA, WEST COAST - SLIP - 9:10AM, FRI 27 JUN
— NZ Transport Agency - Canterbury & West Coast (@nztacwc) June 26, 2025
State Highway 6 is now CLOSED between the SH6/SH69 intersection at Inangahua, and the SH6/SH67 intersection south of Westport. Consider an alternative route at this time. ^CS pic.twitter.com/hCoerWwA6d
NZTA says State Highway 6 between the SH6/SH69 intersection at Inangahua and the SH6/SH67 intersection south of Westport has been closed due to a slip as of 9.10am.
Further south, Dunedin and parts of North Otago remain under a heavy rain watch.
Inland Otago and South Canterbury are forecast to receive snow above 600 metres from late Friday into Saturday, with warnings of potential travel disruption and hazardous alpine road conditions.
The severe weather is being driven by a slow-moving low-pressure system in the Tasman Sea, which is funnelling moisture-laden air over central and northern South Island regions.
The system is expected to weaken gradually over the weekend.
Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist based in Dunedin.
Severe weather hits as school holidays begin, with evacuations in Marlborough.