Phones have been ringing hot with donations for flood victims, via a helpline set up by the Holmes programme that has raised close to $500,000 after just a few hours.
At 10pm on Thursday the total amount of money donated to the helpline was $482,370.
The helpline opened at 5pm on Thursday, February 19 for 24 hours and will run 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.
To make an automatic $10 donation to the Holmes National Flood Relief Fund, call 0900 511-11 . Telecom and Connexus have waived their fees so 100% of donations go to the relief funds.
By 7:30pm on Thursday $300,000 had been donated and by 8:30pm, $429,750 had been raised.
Heavy rain was again lashing parts of the storm-ravaged lower North Island on Thursday night.
Forecasters said an active front with bands of thunderstorms were making their way northwards across the upper South Island and lower North Island.
Police said surface flooding forced the closure of State Highway One between Mackays Crossing and Paekakariki on the Kapiti Coast. Water was also washing over rail lines in the area, halting train services.
There were also reports of surface flooding in other areas in the greater Wellington region, including Tawa, Porirua and the Hutt Valley.
The Fire Service said they were run off their feet due to flooding caused by thunderstorms, which were also activating alarms from Kapiti to Upper Hutt.
Forecasters said the rain was not expected to ease until the early hours of Friday morning.
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.
