Live: Kaikōura District Council to continue assessing flood-damaged properties

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A southerly storm that sent a month's worth of rain over Kaikōura this week is moving up the country, over Wellington and toward Hawke's Bay.

The Eastern ranges of Horowhenua, Manawatū, and Taihape, also the ranges of the Tararua District and Hawke's Bay are under an orange level heavy rain warning until midnight on Thursday.

Strong wind warnings are in place for Wellington and Kāpiti Coast, Taranaki and Marlborough Sounds until 3pm Thursday.

All bridges into Martinborough in South Wairarapa are closed for the second time in 24 hours due to rising river levels. Rivers rose again following heavy downpours in Wairarapa on Wednesday night.

The Waihenga Bridge on State Highway 53 shut in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The Ponatahi and Lower Valley bridges are also closed.

A winding, rural road through Longbush north of Martinborough, is the only route into the town.