Emergency operations are ramping up at the top of the South Island. Heavy rain warnings are in place around northern and western parts of the mainland with a state of emergency declared on the West Coast.
MetService says up to 800 millimetres of rain could accumulate in the Tasman ranges until Thursday.
Earlier Golden Bay community board chairperson Abbie Langford told us paddocks were already flooding, and she said it get worse.
Reporter Niva Chittock is at Westport's recreation centre and spoke to Corin Dann.
