New Zealand’s Dunedin City Council has lifted a state of emergency after torrential rain last week caused severe flooding and landslides.

MetService data shows the city received 76mm of rain on Thursday and 70.4mm on Friday. A red warning was issued for eastern Otago, Dunedin and Clutha, with the region especially vulnerable after wet weather earlier this year.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said in a post on X that it was the wettest day in the Dunedin suburb of Musselburgh since April 1923.

“We are aware many property owners will be dealing directly with their insurance company over claims and next steps, including temporary accommodation if they are unable to get back into their homes,” council civil defence controller Rob West said last week.

“We encourage anyone who has not contacted their insurer to do so.” 

The council said yesterday that 44 properties have been inspected and 11 “red-stickered”, meaning they are unsafe to occupy. Some roads were closed last week because of the weather.

Mr West says the city is moving into recovery phase, and the focus is on reopening roads, clearing slip debris, reinstating water supplies on the West Harbour and Otago Peninsula, and helping community members.