Hundreds evacuated in NZ floods

Hundreds of people have been evacuated as heavy rain caused flooding and landslides in New Zealand's South Island.

A state of emergency was declared after 420 millimetres of rain fell in 24 hours bringing streams of mud and water into towns, leaving a trail of destruction.

More than 100 people have had to leave their homes and hundreds more are stranded after two days of downpours.

Two tourists had to be rescued from a tree in a swollen river and a dam has burst.

The front bringing the downpours today moved over the North Island, closing roads and causing surface flooding in Northland.

Image: Thinkstock