Authorities are preparing for the West Coast to be hammered again by heavy rain.
Most roads have been cleared of fallen trees. Photo: SUPPLIED / Shona Rathgen
MetService is forecasting low-lying areas along the West Coast, hit by last month's storm, may receive about 50 or 70 millimetres of rain from Sunday night.
The Grey District mayor, Tony Kokshoorn, said most roofs had been repaired and most roads had been cleared of fallen trees and debris.
Mr Kokshoorn said while the council was on top of the damage caused by the tail of the former tropical cyclone Ita, it did not want heavy rain to add to the problems.
He said Civil Defence would monitor the situation and crews would be mobilised if river levels peak.
Great walk back on track
Further north, one of the country's Great Walks was due to re-open on Monday after storm damage was repaired more quickly than expected.
Mountain bikers and trampers were told they could start using the Heaphy Track, in Kahurangi National Park, because fallen trees and other storm detritus had been cleared.
A slip in Kahurangi National Park. Photo: supplied
The track, in the South Island's northwest, partially opened from its western Karamea end at the start of May, but now the full 78-kilometre stretch will reopen.
The Department of Conservation's Westport services manager, Bob Dickinson, said some parts of the track are not yet up to their usual standard.
Bikers and walkers were being advised to take extra care and watch out for loose vegetation in trees.
