Brown said he had never seen the river as high as it is in his life. Acting Minister for Emergency Management Kris Faafoi said plans were being made for evacuations in Asburton, if they are needed. Homes would be evacuated during daylight if required, rather than overnight, he said.
CHARLIE O MANNIN/Stuff
Floodwaters from the Waihi River pour across a property at Winchester in South Canterbury.
Rescues and evacuations are under way across Canterbury as heavy rain batters the region causing widespread flooding and power outages. More than 200 millimetres of rain has already fallen in parts of the Canterbury High Country since Saturday afternoon and as much is predicted to fall again by Monday morning.