Roads and bridges are damaged, houses flooded, communities cut off and tourists still trapped as Cyclone Gita leaves the country.
The Christchurch City, Taranaki, Nelson Tasman, Grey and Selwyn councils still have a state of emergency in place to deal with widespread flooding and disruption.
Fire and Emergency said almost 500 people made emergency calls yesterday and through the night.
At least 5000 people in Golden Bay and Collingwood are cut off after heavy rain brought down slips, closing the road in three places on Takaka Hill and State Highway 1 into Kaikōura has been closed by slips.
Also in the South Island, Tourists are still trapped in south Westland after spending the night in their buses or in welfare centres after State Highway 6 was closed.
MetService said the very worst of the weather was likely over, and conditions were expected to ease as Gita moves away today.