Flooding felt across district
The sustained rain that soaked Timaru District flooded roads and taxed infrastructure.
Surface flooding was reported in all towns in the district while low-lying properties bore the brunt.
Waterways north and south of Timaru spilled on to farmland, roads and tracks.
Large tracts of the Caroline Bay recreation area were under water while Saltwater Creek, in south Timaru, and Washdyke Creek, in the north, lapped at their bridges and ran across property.
Among the worst affected stretches of road was one of the busiest in the district.
Residents and business owners could only watch as the flood waters rose on Evans St, sending waves of water through buildings.
Some described the flooding as the worst they had seen in two decades.
Mr Jacks Cafe, on the corner of Grants Rd and Evans St, directly opposite the BP Petrol station, shut early because of rising floodwaters.
Cafe owner Myra Dick said "neither the landlord or the other shop owners have seen it this bad, they left some time ago".
Cafe employee Jamie Dick said rain issues started about 1pm.
"So we’ve got water coming onto our footpath, we’re having cars who are over the bonnet in water. BP is completely flooded and across the road is flooded as well."
Contractors from Paul Smith Earthmoving were sandbagging BP and nearby shops at 4pm.
Rynee de Garnham said she had been heading to the petrol station when she was stopped in her tracks by the floodwater, which was at knee-level.
There were minor slips in parts of the district. A property on Douglas St, Timaru, was imperiled when the large retaining wall bordering the street collapsed.
The road was cordoned off for much of the day as first emergency crews, then engineers, assessed the scene.
Five panels in what near neighbour Sarah Shaw described as "quite an iconic wall" collapsed into the road.
A Timaru District Council Civil Defence spokesman said engineers assessed the property at the request of its owners, who engaged a private company.
The council was not involved with the assessment. However he confirmed that no evacuation from the property had been ordered.
Attempts to track down the property owners on Friday were unsuccessful.
Fire Service Mid-South Canterbury assistant area manager Steven Greenyer said its brigades were called to 75 weather related incidents, ranging from helping to clear blocekd drains to moving trees or vehicles from the road.
Weather-related power cuts tested Alpine Energy cerews throughout the day, with up-to 300 customers without power over the course of the day.
There were power cuts at Hunter, Makikihi, Studholme, Jackson Bush, Otaio, Taiko, Levels Valley and Washdyke Flat. Power was cut in Temuka when a tree fell on powerlines.
Alpine chief executive Andrew Tombs warned of the potential for further disruption as water levels rose: "We ask people to treat lines as live at all times, and if they see anything could impact the lines, please let us know," Tombs said.
Its group manager corporate services, Michael Boorer, said it appeared most of the cuts were weather related, but that the weather made assessing the damage difficult.
Inland, the Mackenzie District Council issued a boiled water notice for Fairlie as a precautionary measure.
Chief executive Wayne Barnett said there may some water discolouration and so a notice was issued as a precaution.
Senior Sergeant Dylan Murray, of Timaru, advised South Canterbury motorists not to travel unless they had to.
"If you do have to travel, reduce your speed, watch your following distances and be patient," Murray said.
The NZTA also issued a general warning to motorists, asking them to slow down and take extra care with the potential of surface flooding in South Canterbury, Mid Canterbury and further north.
Ships were delayed from entering Timaru’s port due to rough sea conditions, PrimePort chief executive Phil Melhopt confirmed.
The rain left district sports fields sodden and unusable.
South Canterbury Rugby administrator Tracy Forrest said all South Canterbury junior and teenage rugby had been cancelled for Saturday.
South Canterbury Football had also cancelled all junior and youth football as well as its Senior division 3 competition.
A decision whether to cancel Senior division 1 and 2 women’s football would be made on Saturday morning.