Yahoo Xtra News Headline; says: 'Flooding in South Canterbury and Otago and has prompted councils to activate their civil defence emergency operations centres. Civil defence headquarters in Waimate and Otago were activated as heavy rains hammered the lower part of the South Island. However, neither of the areas have, as yet, declared a state of emergency.
Waimate District Council spokeswoman Carolyn Johns said the roads around Morven, 34km north east of Oamaru, were extremely dangerous and the township itself had been flooded. However, the rains were easing and no-one had officially reported losing their electricity or telephone, she said. The council was advising people to keep off roads in the district, especially after dark. Further south, flooding closed State Highway 1 between Dunedin and Balclutha, Waikouaiti and Milton and SH83 between Pukeuri and Duntroon.