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It has been a race against time for communities hit by flooding in the centre of the North Island, as rain began falling on already sodden land.
The Army was brought in to help with sandbagging in Rangiotu as residents raced to build new defences against the water. Many defences are shattered and crews have been working overtime to bolster them.
Across the region authorities were preparing for the worst - a repeat of Monday's floods. Peter Davies, the chief executive of the Manawatu Wanganui Regional Council, said Civil Defence staff and others were on standby.
The small community of Rangiotu was hit on Monday when the river burst its banks, flooding the small community. On Thursday evening there was a mass of water creeping up on Rangiotu as stopbanks breached further north.
In Tangimoana, residents returned to their homes on Thursday after four days away, but many homes remained without power or phone connections.
Farmers have been struggling as they discover more dead stock every day. Some dairy farms were also forced to dump their milk, with collection or delivery impossible in parts of the lower central North Island.
Nearly 400 people were still out of their homes around the region and evacuation centres were on standby again on Thursday evening.
The worst of the weather was expected to hit on Thursday night.
ONE News weather reporter Karen Olsen said rainfall intensities could reach 25 to 30mm an hour on the Tararua and Ruahine ranges and in the hill country from Taihape to inland Wanganui
Olsen warned a careful watch needed to be kept on river levels again. She said the rain should start to ease at around midnight
There was also a strong wind warning, with severe gale force winds expected in exposed places with gusts to 120 km an hour.
Flood relief funding appeals
Since the flooding began earlier this week, many companies and organisations have set up relief funds to help those affected.
New Zealand Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal to help assist people affected by the flooding in the lower North Island and upper South Island.
Funds raised will be provided to projects nominated by mayoral relief funds and the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, which aim to alleviate the short-term needs of affected people.
The National Bank and ANZ Bank have already donated $50,000 each to the appeal and the public can make donations at any of the banks' branches throughout the country.
Bank of New Zealand has donated $25,000 to the Feilding and Districts Relief Trust Account, which it established on Wednesday night in conjunction with the Manawatu District Council.
Southland Flood Relief Fund, which was set up by the region's local body leaders, has donated $20,000. People can make a donation at any branch of the BNZ. Donations can be made from February 20 to March 19.
Shoppers at Farmers will be asked over the weekend to "add a gold coin or more" to their purchase total. The money will be donated to the company's flood victim support appeal entitled Farmers for the Farmers. Farmers is also making a cash donation of up to $30,000.
Meanwhile, the Holmes programme has set up a helpline for donations.
To make an automatic $10 donation to the Holmes National Flood Relief Fund, please call 0900 51111 .
The line is open for 24 hours from Thursday, February 19 at 5pm until 7.30pm on Friday, February 20. The money collected will be evenly distributed to the funds set up in the affected regions and Federated Farmers.
By 8:30pm on Thursday, $429,750 had already been raised from the Holmes helpline.
