May 2010 flood

Taieri dairy farmers affected by flooding could each face costs of up $60,000 for alternative winter grazing.

Saving the goldfish was a priority for Kristine Hooper on the night Henley flooded, but she said coming home yesterday and seeing her recently renovated 150-year-old cottage surrounded by floodwater was cause for greater anxiety.

The Walker family's back yard in Queen St, Milton, was completely underwater yesterday.

Coastal Otago residents yesterday began what will be a long process - drying out and cleaning up after widespread flooding and a week of torrential rain.

More than 130 claims - costing an estimated $1.5 million - have been received by the Earthquake Commission (EQC) so far following heavy rain and floods throughout the country over the past two weeks.

Hundreds of households in Macandrew Bay and Company Bay were without water for several hours yesterday after a main burst.

Hundreds of households in Macandrew Bay and Company Bay were without water for several hours yesterday after a main burst.

Police arrested at least one driver near Hampden on Saturday after motorists' frustration at having to wait for flooded roads to be reopened boiled over.

At the flood peak on Saturday, the Taieri River's flow at Outram was the third highest since records began in 1968.

Access to the seaside community of Long Beach was temporarily closed on Saturday morning after heavy rain caused a 15m slip near the intersection of Mihiwaka Rd and Driver St.

Flood conditions are easing in some coastal Otago areas as rainfall eases but State Highway 1 south of Milton will be closed until at least tomorrow and the Taieri River is continuing to rise.

Persistent overnight rain has caused landslides, rising rivers and flooded roads across Coastal Otago.

As many as 1000 rural people in North Otago were without tap water yesterday after floodwaters contaminated water intakes.

A Taieri landowner is questioning why he should to pay an Otago Regional Council levy for flood protection, when 90% of his 25ha farm went under water this week.

As rain continued for the fifth day yesterday and with more forecast, the Otago Regional Council was warning coastal Otago residents to stay on alert for flooding.

North Otago has started counting the cost of four days of flooding, with fears the cost of repairs to roads and bridges could top $1 million.

Some North Otago families had a special home delivery of basic food necessities yesterday as they recovered from three days of torrential rain and flooding.