State Highway One partly blocked by slip

State Highway One remains reduced to one lane by a slip that has partially blocked the road south of Kaikoura, following heavy overnight rain.

Kaikoura police acting sergeant Dean Schroder said the landlslip had initially blocked both lanes of the main road north but contractors had managed to reopen one lane.

A motorist at the scene reports traffic is banked up in both directions and there are long delays.

Schroder said the slip was probably due to heavy overnight rain "rather than any earthquake-related activity''

Many Christchurch motorists are expected to head north today to escape continual aftershocks from Saturday's big earthquake.

Police are warning of delays on the roads and asking drivers to take extra care in the wet weather.

- © Fairfax NZ News