A woman in her 70s was trying to reach her car yesterday afternoon by crossing the flooded Otematata River when she fell, a Waitaki District Council spokeswoman said.
A council employee waded into the river to pull the woman, who was ``distressed and upset'' out of the water.
This followed an earlier rescue, about 2am, of a man trapped in his car near the State Highway 83 bridge.
Senior Constable Craig Bennett, of Kurow, said the man was trying to move his vehicles away from floodwaters when the water rose too quickly for him.
Snr Const Bennett said the man's car flooded then became wedged and stopped moving.
The man was on top of the vehicle when police found him. Aided by lighting, the man was able to leave his car and wade chest-deep through the flooded paddock towards Snr Const Bennett.
Once safe, the man was put in a dinghy and went back to rescue two dogs left behind in the vehicle, Snr Const Bennett pulling them to safety.
Environment Canterbury described the flood event as ``significant'', causing the Otematata boat harbour camping ground at the mouth of the river to be extensively flooded by about 1m of water at its peak.
A council spokeswoman said 120mm and 140mm of rain was recorded over a 20 hour period, most of it falling in six to seven hours on Sunday night.
``This is an extreme amount of rainfall for this catchment, currently estimated to be close to a 100 year rainfall.''
The river rose rapidly and peaked at 11.30pm on Sunday at 450cumecs.
This is the largest flow in the river since the damaging South Canterbury floods of 1986.
The nearby Otematata Holiday Park and Lodge put on hot drinks for any stranded campers.
Owner Brent Cowles estimated about 30 caravans were at the park, but said after an evacuation order people were taken into the township.
Further south, residents of the Northern Southland town of Waikaia took being landlocked in their stride after a massive rainfall at the weekend left the township isolated for a period yesterday.
The rain that started on Saturday and ended yesterday raised rivers rapidly across Northern Southland and Otago, including the Waikaia River which flooded, making roads into the small town impassable.
A fall of 57mm at Piano Flat on Sunday pushed the Waikaia River over its banks, although it started to recede about 5pm yesterday.
A Waikaia resident, who asked to be known as Heather, said access to the town last night was still restricted to four-wheel-drive vehicles.
It was too much of a risk for smaller vehicles ``because of the hollows in the road and you don't know what's under there''.
Residents were used to flooding as it was a regular occurence for the township.
``We love water here.''
Waikaia farmer Andrew King said the plains usually flooded at least ``once or twice a year'' and he was not bothered by the issues with roads.
``It's just something that happens.''
SouthRoads contractor Bruce White placed flood warnings and signs on roads in the region yesterday afternoon.
He understood the Waikaia River had risen at least 3.4m above its usual level.
The Southland District Council advised this morning that all roads in the Northern Southland area were now open but drivers were asked to take care.
Floodwaters have moved downstream and the Mataura River is still rising, so drivers are asked to take care in the southern Southland area today.
Holz Rd is closed, and water is flowing across and signage is out on Mataura Island Titiroa Rd and Fleming Rd, but they are still passable with care.
The weekend's rain caused most rivers in Otago to rise, the Pomahaka, Kakanui, and Taieri reaching flood warning levels on Sunday night, but most rivers peaked about noon yesterday.
The Otago Regional Council was keeping a watch on the Clutha River at Balclutha, which was still rising at 6pm yesterday.
It was not expected to breach, but some flooding of low-lying paddocks beside the river upstream of the town was expected.
Multiple roads around the Clutha district were closed yesterday, but most have reopened today.
The Tuapeka punt had stopped operating until further notice.
A Clutha District Council spokeswoman said there was a conserve water notice in place for the Glenkenich rural water scheme as dirty river conditions meant the plant was struggling to produce a constant supply of water.
The Taieri River was high in the Strath Taieri area and continued to rise during the day.
Groundwater levels in South Dunedin rose, but there were no reports of widespread surface flooding. Dunedin streams peaked and were receding by lunchtime.
A Dunedin City Council spokeswoman said there was no significant damage from the 70mm downpour in Dunedin, other than at the Warrington Domain, which was closed to camping after rain turned the grounds to mud. Campers were encouraged to move or go to Waikouaiti to camp.
There is more bad weather on the way from tomorrow.
The MetService has issued a warning for heavy rain and severe northwest gales for parts of the lower South Island late today, moving northwards tomorrow.
