Westland's mayor Helen Lash says the region has fared exceptionally well overnight and avoided the worst of the deluge.
A state of emergency has been lifted and a red heavy rain warning has expired.
"We're very very fortunate because if we'd had the intensities for the length of time it was forecasted, we would be having a totally different conversation right now," Lash said.
The original forecast was for some areas to receive up to 49 millimetres an hour overnight and while the rain fell, it was spread over a longer period, she said.
Instead, rivers were beginning to fall and Lash said the slips that had been found were minor and were being cleaned up.
Nobody was evacuated overnight despite communities opening their halls ready to welcome anybody in need, Lash said.
"Everything worked like a well-oiled machine, I couldn't be more pleased with how everything worked."
State Highway 6 between Haast and Hokitika has now reopened following the two-day deluge.
Read how the situation unfolded this morning:
