Storm easing in most places, with wind warnings still on the map
· RNZWild weather across the country is easing Saturday, but roads and highways are still impacted, after flooding at the top of the South Island.
On Friday, heavy rain and severe gales struck Westland and the Tasman District, disrupting travel on some state highways, with some elevated places recording up to 300 millimetres of rain in 36 hours.
That weather front was moving away from New Zealand on Saturday morning, with only a few lighter showers expected, MetService said. However, people were still being urged to take care in strong winds through the first half of the morning.
"Be aware of strong winds for the first half of the morning - otherwise things will go back to normal," MetService Meteorologist Samkelo Magwala said. "There will be showers, but not as heavy."
Weather still affecting highways and roads
Roading contractors in the South Island are clearing slips and repairing highways, after downpours overnight and Friday, but there is still flooding in places and travellers are being warned to drive with care.
Christchurch has significant surface flooding on State Highway 74, Anzac Drive, north of Wetlands Grove.
On the West Coast, State Highway 7, between Reefton and Springs Junction, has flooding, along with sections of State Highway 6, between Lower Buller Gorge and Inangahua, and Haast and Hokitika.
In Otago, contractors are clearing rockfall on State Highway 8, between Lindis Pass and Lindis Valley.
The Transport Agency said State Highway 6, between Pelorus and Havelock, had re-opened mid-Saturday morning, after it was closed by flooding on Friday.
Six people were rescued from their vehicles on the highway, after being trapped there by the flood Friday night, between Nelson and Blenheim, police said.
Floodwater levels at the highway initially remained high on Saturday morning and, after the highway re-opened, speeds were restricted to 50km/h, with people warned to drive with extra care.
Weather warnings cancelled, wastewater warnings issued for Wellington
MetService severe gale warnings and watches for Canterbury, Tasman District and parts of the Lower North Island were cancelled by midday Saturday, including a heavy swell warning for the Wellington region's west coast.
An unplanned untreated wastewater discharge resulting from the heavy rain meant Wellingtonians were warned not to swim, surf or kayak along the capital's south coast, and not to collect shellfish and other kaimoana from Owhiro Bay to Breaker Bay.
Wellington Water said heavy rain had resulted in contaminated water being discharged into Tarakena Bay through the short outfall pipe and the wastewater was likely travelling about the coastline areas.
Water quality samples would be collected from coastal locations when weather conditions allowed.
Wastewater had also discharged into the stormwater system, after a blockage at the intersection of Avon and Clyde streets in Wellington's Island Bay. A repair crew was on site on Saturday and environmental controls were in place, the council said.
Powerco said most of Friday's major weather-related outages in Taranaki and Whanganui had been repaired by Saturday morning, but about 47 customers remained without power across Taranaki, down from nearly 600 overnight.
In Whanganui, 108 customers were also still without power, with the biggest outages in Turakina, Parikino and Kai Iwi.
For Sunday, MetService said the blustery weather was expected to continue, with an "unsettled and cold showery" west-to-southwest flow poised to blow over the motu and more wind warnings possible, particularly for Southland and Otago.
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