UPDATE: 1.45pm – Further road closure due to slips

State Highway 67 from Mokihinui to Karamea Bluff has been closed because of a slip. Road users are asked to avoid the area and delay their journeys if possible.

State Highway 7 between Springs Junction and Reefton remains closed because of the risk from slips and surface flooding.

Update will be provided as the road status changes.

12.10pm – SH7 closed due to risk from slips & flooding

State Highway 7 between Springs Junction and Reefton has been closed because of the risk from slips and surface flooding.

The closure comes after area warnings across highways on the West Coast and in the central South Island due to the impacts of heavy rain, with more rain forecast.

An update on this section of closed SH7 is expected later this afternoon.

10.10am – Further flooding & slip warnings in place

Further area warnings have been put in place by New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi following heavy rain that has caused slips and surface flooding on the West Coast and central South Island highways.

These additional warnings are:

State Highway 67A ,Westport to Cape Foulwind – Due to surface flooding, road users are advised to take extra care when travelling along this route.

State Highway 67, Lower Buller Gorge to Mokihinui – Due to surface flooding, road users are advised to take extra care when travelling along this route.

State Highway 6, Lower Buller Gorge – Due to surface flooding and slips, road users are advised to take extra care when travelling along this route.

State Highway 6, Greymouth to Punakaiki – Due to surface flooding and slips, road users are advised to take extra care when travelling along this route.

Stay up to date on the highway conditions at our Journey Planner site.

9.30am – Flooding and slips on highways after heavy rain

Area warnings are in place this morning for parts of State Highways 7 and 73 due to surface flooding and slips following a period of heavy rain.

On State Highway 7, road users are warned by the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to take extra care when travelling between Lewis Pass and Springs Junction, and between Reefton and Ikamatua, because of surface flooding.

On State Highway 73 between Arthur's Pass Village and Kumara Junction, extra care is urged because of flooding and slips.

There have also been rockfalls on State Highway 6 near Meybille Bay, north of Punakaiki (see images below).

MetService still has heavy rain warnings in place for the Buller and Grey Districts, the Westland District about and north of the Glaciers, and the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers from around Mount Cook to Lewis Pass.

© Scoop Media