"Significant rain" has fallen overnight in the Westland District after flooding washed away the Waiho Bridge and slips closed roads. Schools in the area are closed and there are power outages in Awatuna, Kaihinu and Kokatahi, the Westland District Council said this morning. A slip at Candys Creek on SH73 on the Arthur's Pass/Otira route between the West Coast and Canterbury has closed the highway. The Westland Civil Defence Controller, Simon Bastion, told RNZ this morning has been a "horrendous and scary 24 hours" on the coast, but people's worst fears have not been realised. The Westland District Council advised that Ritchies Bus Services had suspended all bus services today for the whole of the West Coast.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 26, 2019 18:54 UTC