Ardern met with Mid Canterbury community and rural leaders in Ashburton this week.

Calls to speed up plans for a second bridge were made following the recent floods.

Jacinda Ardern has spent the day in Canterbury, which was devastated by torrential rain.

Ashburton farmers could take months, if not years, to recover from recent flooding.

Christopher Bates' parents hope someone remembers something that leads to their son.

Rain is expected to hit the east of the South Island this weekend.

Three of the people were from Christchurch and one from Auckland.

Auckland always gets a better deal than Ashburton, says the local mayor.

Family of van driver killed in a horror crash at Ashburton shares road safety plea.

The double-vehicle crash happened just outside Ashburton yesterday morning.

Police rue terrible start to Queens Birthday long weekend.

"This is an absolute tragedy," area commander Inspector David Gaskin said.

The extended state of emergency provides reassurance for farmers in the recovery phase.

South Island's rail network took a battering.

The crossing has been closed on and off since Tuesday.

Air Force crew risked own lives to save trio caught in 'raging torrents' in Canterbury.

NZTA had been testing the damaged bridge through Tuesday afternoon and evening.

We can't call it a 'one-in-100 year' event, but can say climate change likely contributed.

Water levels slowly easing as hundreds of people plan to return to evacuated homes.

All other road options south from Ashburton are closed.

Bridges washed out, whole farms under water, as sun comes out.

Mop-ups under way already but torrential rain continues to fall.

People in parts of Canterbury are being ordered to head to higher ground.

River levels have been falling but it could take two or three more days to drain.

Dozens of schools are closed and residents are on standby as heavy rain continues to fall.

Ashburton is preparing for mass evacuations as the river rises and heavy rain continues.

Forecaster says an "atmospheric traffic jam" is helping drive wild weather in Canterbury.

Heathcote River in Chch has broken its banks and next high tide will bring new flooding.

Floodwaters in Canterbury have exceeded warnings "by a huge magnitude", Fed Farmers says.

The matter was expected to come back to council later this week.