As rain keeps falling in central Otago - sandbags are being given out as a precaution

The Queenstown Lakes District Council says it's now distributing sandbags in Queenstown, Glenorchy and Kingston - as well as Wanaka.

Lake and river levels are still rising a spokesperson says Lake Wanaka and Lake Wakatipu are expected to peak well below levels that caused big floods in 1999.

Some sewerage outlets in low-lying parts of Wanaka have just been closed - to make sure waste doesn't flow in to the lake.