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Kaikōura council staff were assessing flood damage on Wednesday morning but fear the weather event may not be over.
North Canterbury has taken a battering over the last few days as a cold, icy front swept up the South Island, delivering heavy rain.
A state of emergency was declared in Kaikōura on Tuesday morning after the Kowhai River breached its bank, leading to flooding in the town and forcing residents to head for higher ground.
A red rain warning has been downgraded to orange, but the state of emergency remained in place at 9am on Wednesday.
Kaikōura District Council corporate services senior manager Peter Kearney said staff were out assessing properties and infrastructure in West End and Beach Rd.
‘‘Hopefully we are out of the woods, but it remains a fluid situation.
‘‘The Kowhai and Hāpuku rivers are down and the Lyell Creek is down, and the immediacy of risk has reduced, but we are expecting more rain.’’
A temporary boil water notice is in place for the Peketa rural water supply
Mr Kearney said staff and contractors would assess properties on West End before allowing residents and business owners to return.
Bridges were damaged on Beach Rd, Kaikōura Inland Rd and on State Highway 1.
SH1, between Waipara and Ward, and Kaikōura Inland Rd remained closed this morning.
The council would be working with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to get the roads open as soon as possible, he said.
Around 150 residents stayed the night at Takahanga Marae and an evacuation centre was also operating at the Kaikōura New Life Church.
‘‘We are grateful for the support from fire, police, the Marae, council staff and volunteers,’’ Mr Kearney said.
A council staff member and a Downers worker were injured in the flood, but were able to get out of Kaikōura to receive medical attention, he said.
Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura chairperson Hariata Kahu said the team at the marae was ‘‘working around the clock to ensure everyone is cared for’’.
The Kaikōura New World closed at 4pm on Tuesday, after operating with a smaller team due to the weather event.
The supermarket is open again today until 5pm with reduced staffing.
In Cheviot, Four Square owner-operator Steve Allison said there were about 10 trucks parked near his store overnight, and the town was full of people in motels who were waiting on roads to open.
Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said there was significant damage around Hanmer Springs, Waiau, Mt Lyford and Cheviot.
Council teams have been out monitoring roads, bridges and waste water treatment systems to assess the damage, she said.
‘‘To date, everything is in a managed state, but there are some road closures and ford closures.
‘‘If you are out and about, you need to be mindful and take precautions.’’
Mrs Black said she was pleased to hear families were able to have some school holiday fun in Hanmer Springs, with more than 1000 people through the hot pools on Tuesday.
The weather event has led to some disruption for the Hanmer Springs Alpine Winter Festival.
‘‘The winter festival is a fantastic event and it is a great destination through the holiday break,’’ Mrs Black said.
‘‘It’s just lovely and it’s a real winter wonderland for kids.’’
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.