The Christchurch Mayor hopes Banks Peninsula's State Highway 75 will reopen this morning

Heavy rain's brought widespread flooding - with 300 millimetres falling on the peninsula in 35 hours.

A local state of emergency is in place.

Sixty students, parents, and teachers from Kirkwood Intermediate have stayed an extra night at Akaroa's Onuku Marae.

Mayor Phil Mauger says NZTA is assessing the roads - and checking for landslides.

He says Banks Peninsula, especially Little River got absolutely hammered.

States of Emergency also remain for the North Island's Waikato, Otorohanga, Waipa and Manawatu-Whanganui.