Farmers in regions hit hard by last week's storm say it will take at least a fortnight to mop up the damage.
Water running off the hills caused slips on James Bruce's farm in Martinborough. Photo: Supplied / James Bruce
The heavy rain that swept up the country late last week left James Bruce's farm in Martinborough waist-deep in water, and turned his driveway into a 2m deep river.
Mr Bruce said repairing flattened fences and clearing slips on his property would be a big job.
"We've probably got 14-odd days for two people just to clean up around the river.
"There's some big chunks of land missing, 20m worth, it's all gone and is part of the river now.
"There was a gateway and a fence, and I don't even know where that is. It's all gone too."
Mr Bruce said he would have to wait for river levels to drop before getting out to assess the rest of the damage on the farm.
"It's not until you actually start cleaning up that you realise how long things are going to take and how bad it is."
Photo: Supplied / James Bruce
Farmers in the Manawatu region are also still dealing with floodwaters.
Manawatu/Rangitikei sharemilkers' chairman Richard McIntyre said a few paddocks on several properties were still underwater.
"A friend of mine has all his calving paddocks underwater at the moment," he said.
There was still water on the Moutoa spillway after the floodgates were opened during the storm, he said. Farmers with land on the spillway didn't have access to much of their feed.
