Christchurch City Council contractors were out and about on Thursday morning assessing the damage caused by the heavy rain and flooding that hit Canterbury last night.
The downpour, which eased from about midnight, has caused flooding, closed roads and prompted slip warnings. Wastewater overflows also contaminated the floodwater.
Council head of three waters Helen Beaumont was confident the rain had passed by Thursday morning - and now the clean up begins.
Peter Timbs Meats in Edgeware was flooded on Wednesday night for the second time this year.
He spoke to RNZ's Susie Ferguson:
The butchery was forced to shut on Wednesday afternoon so staff could stop water from entering the shop.
About 50 staff were sent home after the shop and factory were closed. David Timbs hoped to reopen the shop today.
Beaumont said about 75mm of rain fell on city over a 24-hour period, and coastal suburbs received slightly more.
But the heaviest downpour was recorded on Banks Peninsula - 81mm fell in Akaroa and 97mm in Duvauchelles.
The Ōtākaro Avon and Ōpāwaho Heathcote Rivers spilled out of their banks in a number of places and many smaller waterways flowed across roads and properties.
Beaumont said Fire and Emergency NZ helped a few houses in Le Bons Bay to evacuate on Wednesday night after a stream burst its banks.
However, as of Thursday morning the council had not received any reports about houses in the city flooding above floor level.
"The city was well prepared with key stormwater grates checked and cleared, beach outfall dug out and pumps placed in a number of locations.
"The stormwater storage basins in the upper Opawaho Heathcote catchment are only partially full and the water will be released slowly over the next couple of days," Beaumont said.
A number of roads were closed across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula on Thursday morning due to flooding or slips.
Beaumont said if you are travelling on the roads take extreme care.
"If you have to drive through ponded water, go as slow as possible so that you don’t push water onto people’s property, causing damage.
"There have been some wastewater overflows as a result of the heavy rain so we are advising that people treat any floodwater they come into contact with as potentially contaminated."
Beaumont says the council was asking residents last night to avoid flushing toilets, taking showers or use their washing machines because the wastewater system was under pressure.
"Our message this morning is that it is fine to use the bathroom as normal and to do your washing."
The following roads in Christchurch reopened on Thursday:
Avondale Road, from New Brighton Road to Niven Street.
Breezes Road, from Eglington Street to Niven Street.
Newport Street, from Wainoni Road to Emlyn Place.
Clarendon Terrace, from Opawa Road to Sullivan Avenue.
Hunter Terrace, from Malcolm Avenue to the end.
Waimea Terrace, from Malcolm Avenue to Colombo Street.
Earnlea Terrace, from Colombo Street to the end.
Eastern Terrace, from Sandwich Road to Tennyson Street.
The following roads are closed
Long Bay Road, from just before Paua Bay Road.
Goughs Bay Road.
Dawbers Road.
Le Bons Bay Road, from Le Bons Bay Valley Road.
Le Bons Bay Valley Road.
Hickory Bay Road.
Thursday morning road closures
River Road, from Medway Street to Banks Avenue.
Avonside Drive, from Linwood Avenue to Stanmore Road.
Oxford Terrace, from Kilmore Street to Willow Street.
Marlow Road, from Pages Road to Rowses Road.
Breezes Road, from Eglington Street to Niven Street.
Rowses Road, from Esk Place to Guernsey Street.
Maces Road, from Ruru Road to Wickham Street.
Avondale Road, from New Brighton Road to Niven Street.
Newport Street, from Wainoni Road to Emlyn Street.
Avonside Drive, from Wainoni Road to Emlyn Street.
Carrick Street, from Aylesford St to Flockton Street.
Thornton Street, from Flockton Street to Aylesford Street.
Harrison Street, from Thornton Street to Aylesford Street.
Clarendon Terrace, from Opawa Road to Sullivan Avenue
Hunter Terrace, from Malcolm Avenue to the end.
Waimea Terrace, from Malcolm Avenue to Colombo Street.
Earnlea Terrace, from Colombo Street to the end.
Eastern Terrace, from Sandwich Road to Tennyson Street.
Banks Peninsula
Long Bay Road, from Paua Bay, is closed due to slips.
Le Bons Bay Road, from Le Bons Bay Valley Road is closed due to flooding.
Goughs Road, from Long Bay Road, is closed due to slips.
Little Akaloa Road is closed due to flooding.
The following roads were closed on Thursday morning:
Marlow Road, from Pages Road to Rowses Road.
Breezes Road, from Eglinton Street to Niven Street.
Rowses Road, from Esk Place to Guernsey Street.
Maces Road, from Ruru Road to Wickham Street.
Avondale Road, from New Brighton Road to Niven Street.
Carrick Street, from Aylesford Street to Flockton Street
Hunter Terrace, from Malcolm Avenue to the end of the street.
Clarendon Terrace, from Opawa Road to Sullivan Avenue.
Waimea Terrace, from Malcolm Avenue to Colombo Street.
Earnlea Terrace, from Colombo Street to the end of the street.
Eastern Terrace, from Sandwich Road to Tennyson Street.
-Additional reporting RNZ
