Weather

Businesses say tourists can't reach them as the highway connecting West Coast communities is closed north of Haast, after severe weather.

It comes as officials continue to assess the damage from Saturday's heavy rain.

Thousands of homes could be left unprotected in the coming years as new research points to a looming insurance crisis because of climate change.

For those in the Kinloch area, the only way out is by boat after heavy rain slammed parts of the South Island.

The West Coast and South Island headwaters will see "significant" rainfall this weekend, with orange heavy rain warnings in place until Saturday, MetService says.

The details of the council scheme are still be finalised, but one resident says it still leaves some people in limbo.

A "taste of summer" is on the way, particularly for east, but parts are warned to expect heavy rain. Video

Ongoing dry conditions across Hawke's Bay have farmers on a knife's edge.

A plan has been devised to unleash the Wairoa River in periods of heavy rain through land near North Clyde, fixing a troublesome kink in the river that failed the suburb in Cyclone Bola and Gabrielle.

After a weekend of poor weather, there's not much reprieve on the way with forecast clouds for much of the week.

Thunderstorms may produce hail with diameter in excess of 2cm, MetService warns.

Whether you're running the Auckland Marathon or dipping a toe into the Parnell Baths, it's a mixed bag weather-wise.

Staff currently use another form of physical modelling to predict flooding, but it takes 24 hours to develop forecasts.

Dozens of videos appear to show people trapped by the floodwaters in Valencia, with some climbing into trees to avoid being swept away.

Wairau River flood protection 'did not experience any issues and functioned well' says rivers and drainage engineering manager.