Heavy rain drenching parts of the country has caused slips and surface flooding.

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State Highway 1, 65km south of Blenheim, has been closed due to a slip. The road was likely to re-open this morning.

The Transport Agency were advising drivers travelling on SH 1, from Blenheim to Kaikoura and from Kaikoura to Waipara, to be cautious because of flooding.

There was also flooding on SH 83 from Pukeuri to Kurow and SH63 from Renwick to Wairau Valley.

MetService this morning lifted the heavy rain warning that had been in place for the Kaikoura Coast and ranges.

Heavy rain that had fallen along the coast and in the ranges yesterday and this morning had now eased, it said around 8am.

South Canterbury, which was still recovering from last week's heavy rain, yesterday had a second deluge with a further 40mm to 50mm of rain.

Environment Canterbury's Phillip Lees said although not as much rain had fallen this week compared to last, it still had the potential to cause problems since the ground was already saturated.

In the Timaru area, there were 10 roads closed, surface flooding on a further six and one slip.

The wet weather was expected to ease in the South Island this morning. In the lower North Island, people woke up to steady rain and police said there had been reports of surface flooding.

They warned people to reduce their speeds and watch their distances.

The rain had caused slips and surface flooding on roads in Wellington.

Sergeant Andy Dow, of police communications, said there had been a minor slip on the uphill section of Onslow Rd between the Hutt Rd and Khandallah.

A small slip had come down on Raroa Crescent, off Chaytor Street, in Northland, and a third slip had come down between Shelley Bay and Massey Memorial on the Miramar Peninsula.

He said there were also reports of flooding in the Aotea Lagoon area near the Police College in Porirua.

The rain was expected to continue until about 5pm.

A few showers were expected in the east of the North Island, including Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty.

It was fine in the west and south of the South Island, and cloudy in the north and east. Some evening drizzle was expected in the east coast this evening.

- © Fairfax NZ News