Motorists are being warned to take care after bad weather caused landslips in Wellington overnight, including one that forced a block of flats to be evacuated.
Persistent rain and winds brought down slips and trees in the capital and Wellington City Council asked commuters to take care this morning.
A block of flats in Aro Street, between Devon Street and Adams Terrace, was evacuated after a large slip came down from a steep hillside behind it, the council said.
A resident told RNZ the slip bashed through a wall on Aro Street and there were branches sticking out under the stairs.
Another resident said when the slip came down it felt like an earthquake, with a third describing it as sounding like a thunderstorm.
The slip has also smashed through a carport on Aro Street.
Council officials are assessing the slip and it is not known when the residents will be allowed back in.
The road between Breaker Bay and Seatoun remains closed by a large slip. Metlink said there would be significant delays to school bus services and there would be no Route 30 buses originating from Moa Point.
Slips and trees have come down on Chaytor Street, Karori and Homebush Road, Khandallah, and Ngaio Gorge Road - partially blocking these important commuter routes.
The council said motorists should take alternative routes to avoid delays.
And it said Palliser Road in Roseneath would be closed for the rest of the day to clear a slip that has come down, damaging a car.
MetService said more than 50mm of rain fell in Wellington's western hill suburbs yesterday. NIWA said over 80mm fell in the Rimutakas between midnight and 8am.
Metlink said the harbour ferry was running restricted sailings this morning because of the weather.
