Weather: Heavy rain falls on lower North, upper South Island
Mon, 7th Sep 2026 (Today)
State Highway 6 has reopened between Murchison and Kawatiri Junction in the South Island after being closed because of slips and flooding.
SH65 remains closed between O'Sullivans and Springs Junction because of a slip at Shenandoah.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) says the highway might stay closed Monday night.
SH6 was still closed between Makarora and Lake Hawea because of a slip.
SH67 between Hector and Mokihinui on the West Coast has reopened to a single lane.
NZTA said road users were advised to delay their journeys if possible.
The Tararua Ranges has had almost 100mm of rain over the past 12 hours and will remain under an orange level rain warning until Monday afternoon.
Rain watches also remained in place for parts of Wellington, Waiarapa, Manawatū and Taranaki.
Further south, highways around Nelson and Buller were also closed to flooding and slips.
"Snow is forecast to affect some of the higher-level roads and passes across the South Island," MetService said.
A snowfall warning was in place on the Lewis Pass till at least 9am.
MetService said by Tuesday, there would be minimal risk of severe weather.
"A complex low pressure system moves away to the east of New Zealand as a ridge of high pressure builds over the country. A weak front decays as it moves onto southern New Zealand."
Strong winds were possible by the end of the working week in the southernmost parts of the country.
