Slip debris covers Reavers Lane in Queenstown after heavy rains. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Queenstown is continuing to deal with the damage by the recent deluge to hit the city, with authorities promising that they are treating major debris flow at a local cemetery with "all due care".
A state of emergency has now been lifted in Queenstown.
Wet weather has now moved north, with heavy rain falling across the North Island, and the clean-up has only just begun down south.
In a media briefing late this afternoon, Queenstown Mayor Glyn Lewers said the area had moved into a "transition period" for the next 28 days.
A localised area around Brecon St and Reavers Lane has been cordoned off due to debris flow, but Brecon St was open to pedestrians.
The Skyline would be open tomorrow, but with no mountain bike access.
Lewers said authorities had heard "loud and clear" about the sensitivities around damage to Queenstown Cemetery. He said they were treating that site with the care it deserves and engaging with mana whenua and the faith based community.
The debris flow was across one-third of the cemetery and had impacted an historic monument, but it was the newer areas that were mainly affected.
"I can understanding why family members would want to go up there and see their loved ones' resting place is still intact, but just give us a couple more days."
Inspector Paula Enoka said police staff were at the cemetery and had to tell people the area had not yet been identified as a safe place to be.
"For us they are people who are not snooping - they are there with good intentions."
She said police were purely there because of concerns around stability of ground.
The state of emergency in Southland has also now been lifted but some roads across Invercargill remain closed. The emergency was declared on Thursday after heavy rain and flooding.
The region has now moved into a recovery phase and Mayor Nobby Clark said the clean-up will take some time.
He said some people have been significantly impacted by the floods which can be distressing.
Clark said Civil Defence payments are available and can help to cover the costs of food, bedding, clothing, accommodation and loss of income.
Wet weekend across the North Island
Heavy rain warnings have been in place for parts of the North Island as the active front moves up north after battering the South Island.
MetService said the front which hammered the South Island this week was slowly moving onto the North Island and would continue moving slowly eastwards across the island during the weekend.
A heavy rain watch is in place until Sunday for Northland, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taihape, Whanganui, and Taupo west and south of the Lake, and Taranaki.
See how today's weather events unfolded with RNZ's live blog:
