Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister of Agriculture Damien O'Connor are in to mid-Canterbury to survey the damage from three days of torrential rain.
Evacuees and stranded travellers have spent a second night in emergency accommodation waiting for floodwaters and rivers to drop.
Hundreds of others have spent the night ready to leave home at a moments notice if necessary.
Philly Rooney's farm is close to the Ashburton River where a stop bank burst on Sunday.
Since then she's been staying at friends up the road.
Her farm is flooded - and she's waiting to find out if her house is too.
She spoke to Susie Ferguson.
