Some respite but a decent clean up ahead for South Islanders affected by this weeks heavy rain event

The wet weather system has moved up the country, with a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in place for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, and down the Central North Island along the East Coast until 9pm.

Meanwhile Westland District Mayor Helen Lash says water is receding, but there is damage around Okarito , and power poles down in Okuru down to Jackson Bay.

Lash says they're tidying up connectivity problems around the glacier country - adding they got off very lightly with this one, but it was a good drill.