Hokitika Gorge in flood on Tuesday evening. Photo: Supplied / Gordon Wells
A state of emergency is in place in Westland as the coast is pounded with up to 800ml of rain. There are widespread flooding and slips, rivers are at record levels, roads are closed and there have been evacuations. More than 600 kilometres of State Highway 6 is closed to through traffic. The Waiho Bridge, south of Franz Josef Glacier, has been totally washed away. Conan Young is there.
