Streets in Christchurch are flooded this morning as the region braces itself for more heavy rain throughout the day.

The Heathcote River, on the eastern side of the city, has flooded in parts this morning and has council contractors on alert.

Firefighters, meanwhile, helped two people escape their cars after they drove into floodwaters overnight amid a deluge hitting Banks Peninsula.

An orange heavy rain warning is in place for Banks Peninsula to 6pm today, with 60mm-80mm of rain, on top of what has already fallen, expected.

There is a “moderate chance” of upgrading to a red warning.

The Heathcote River is starting to overflow onto the streets of St Martins this morning. Photo / Jazlyn Whales

The picturesque tourist town of Akaroa remains cut off this morning as State Highway 75/Christchurch Akaroa Rd is closed due to flooding and slips.

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is working with emergency services to enable their access through the closure to assist those in the worst-affected areas on Banks Peninsula, such as Little River township.

“Contractors for NZTA will be working this morning to clear a slip near Lake Forsyth/Wairewa, which remains at a high level,” the agency says.

“People should be prepared for the highway to remain closed for much of the day, and are asked to stay clear of the area or to delay travel.”

MetService’s orange heavy rain warning for Banks Peninsula, through until 6pm tonight, remains in place.

Some Christchurch streets are already flooding, including Eastern Terrace. More rain is on its way today. Photo / Facebook 

Christchurch City Council’s latest road updates include: 

• Clarendon Terr closed from Opawa Rd to Tavender St 
• Eastern Terr closed from Birdwood Ave to Tennyson St 
• Waimea Terr is closed from Riverview St to Malcolm Ave 
• Ford Rd is closed from Opawa Rd to 42 Ford Rd 
• Richardson Terr is closed from Opawa Rd to Mackenzie Rd 
• Fifield Terr is closed from Beckford St to 364 Riverlaw Terr 
• Summit Rd is closed from Sign of the Kiwi to Gebbies Pass Rd. 

Diamond Harbour School is also closed, telling families: “Due to the severe weather conditions and the difficulty in ensuring staff can travel to school safely, Sam and the Board have made the decision to close the school for today.”

More rain is on the way

MetService’s latest update just before 8.30am said there was more heavy rain on the way for the east of the South Island and Chatham Islands.

“A deep low east of New Zealand moves slowly southwards, while bringing periods of heavy rain to the east of the South Island,” the forecaster said.

“Another low brings a period of heavy rain to the Chatham Islands overnight Wednesday into Thursday.

“Large waves and dangerous sea conditions are also expected and coastal inundation is possible about exposed coasts. Please keep up to date with the latest forecasts.”

Parts of Canterbury and Dunedin are also in the firing line from the low-pressure system that hammered the North Island over the past few days.

In the lower North Island, thousands of people are without power after yesterday’s wild weather.

Cleanup is beginning in the North Island, including in Lower Hutt. The area suffered a “massive amount of damage” yesterday, especially from tree debris, Hutt City Council chief executive Jo Miller said.

Ten families were evacuated when the Waiwhetū Stream topped its banks, and at the worst point 10,000 homes were without power, but the situation is much better this morning, Miller told Ryan Bridge TODAY. There had also been slips and a burst water main in Stokes Valley, which was causing the roads to disintegrate.

More than 8000 Powerco customers still have no electricity according to the company’s website - mostly in Manawatū, Whanganui and Wairarapa.

Overnight, firefighters were called out to check on water approaching houses on Banks Peninsula, Fire and Emergency southern shift manager Lyn Crosson said.

Around 11.30pm a car got stuck in flood water on Little River’s main road. The person was helped out of their car and the vehicle was left in the water.

Just after 5am a person got stuck in their car on Marine Drive in Diamond Harbour.

“The person’s [said] that the water is up to the door … the car’s not floating or anything like that,” Crosson said.

“Not swift water or anything - we haven’t got cars being washed away … They’ve driven into flood water and it’s obviously a bit deeper than they anticipated.”

Diamond Harbour volunteer fire brigade has asked people to stay home until it’s safe to go out, saying: “Road conditions near the golf club are hazardous, with multiple vehicles becoming stuck. It is advisable to avoid this area.”

Little River Volunteer Fire Brigade shared a photo on Facebook last night of the floodwater rising on roads, warning locals to take “extreme caution” and stay home if possible.

Floodwater rose in Little River last night as heavy rain hit the Banks Peninsula. Photo / Little River Volunteer Fire Brigade 

Crosson said people were perhaps not paying the respect they should to flooded roads and using “common sense”.

“If people don’t need to be out, probably best to just stay inside until everything’s a little bit more visible.”

Crews had also performed welfare checks for people who could see water approaching their houses - Crosson anticipated more calls at daylight when the weather damage became visible.

“The crews have managed the workload pretty well overnight. There’s a limit to what you can do when it’s flooding sections and it’s still pouring down.”

Heavy rain warning, watches continue today 

MetService meteorologist Alannah Burrows told the Herald rain would be quite widespread across the eastern side of the South Island today, “with some heavier outbreaks in exposed regions like Banks Peninsula [and] Dunedin”.

MetService has issued multiple severe weather watches and warnings.

An orange heavy rain warning is in effect for the Banks Peninsula until 6pm, with 70-100mm of rain forecast on top of what has already fallen.

A heavy rain watch is in force for the Canterbury Plains and foothills between the Rangitata River and Amberley until 10am.

Burrows said today had the potential to be Dunedin’s wettest day of the year so far.

“It hasn’t seen that much rain this year yet and it’s been fairly dry.”

Burrows said the low, which had been bringing extreme weather to New Zealand over the past few days, would track off to the southeast.

“As it does, it is going to help ease that rain from the eastern areas of the South Island.”

Meanwhile, the North Island is forecast to only experience cloudy periods with occasional showers.

The weather will continue to improve across most of New Zealand tomorrow.

Strong winds created chaos on Sunday night, bringing trees down on houses and blocking roads across the lower North Island.

More than 30,000 properties were also thrown into darkness thanks to power outages.

“People will be pleased to hear [that] across the country, we will see plenty of sunny spells,” Burrows said.

“There will be some showers throughout the afternoon, but it’s going to be largely a nice day for the country.

“Winds are looking fairly light as well.”

Temperatures were currently close to or below average for this time of year, Burrows said.

“As we head into Wednesday, they’re heading into more normal temperatures for this time of year.”

According to MetService, Auckland will reach a high of 24C today and 23C tomorrow and Thursday.

Hamilton will reach a high of 23C today and rise to 24C tomorrow, while Tauranga will reach 24C today and 26C tomorrow.

In Northland, Whangārei will reach a high of 24C throughout the week, while Kaitāia will reach 23C and 24C tomorrow and Thursday.

Gisborne is forecast to reach a high of 25C today, 23C tomorrow and up to 26C on Thursday.