A state of emergency has been declared in the Buller District, as heavy rain continues to pummel the region.
Thousands of sandbags have been dispatched to help people protect their homes.
The defence force is headed to the West Coast and one rest home in Westport has already been evacuated.
But the worst could be yet to come, and people have been told to remain on alert for the need to leave at short notice.
Rachel Graham has more.
