Weather: Storm Fehi batters NZ, rain persists

Thousands of people are still without power, roads are closed and flights have been disrupted by the remnants of tropical storm Fehi that has swept across the country. Fehi brought winds of up to 160km/h, torrential rain to coastal areas and a destructive combination of storm surges and king tides. Buller District and Dunedin City councils issued states of emergency yesterday so they had the power to order evacuations. In Dunedin the stormwater drains couldn't cope as 40mm of rain fell and overflows forced sewage on to some streets. People were also been forced out of their homes in the Nelson and Taranaki areas. At least 115 motorists including a busload of tourists remain stranded near Fox Glacier by downed power lines and trees blocking the State Highway. Westland Civil Defence's Andrew Thompson says attempts to reach them had to be abandoned for the night. Later on Friday morning, more heavy rain is forecast in the northwest of the South Island and central North Island. The heaviest rain is expected to fall in Westland, Buller, northwest Nelson, and the Canterbury high country.