A state of emergency has been declared in the Whanganui and Rangitikei Districts and officials are saying it is the worst flooding the region has experienced in years.
Whangaehu residents were evacuated yesterday and rural areas in particular are those most affected by the major damage caused by persistent heavy rain over the weekend.
A number of road closures have been implemented as a result of the flooding and the Manawatu Gorge is closed due to a number of slips and many other routes into Whanganui have been cut off due to flooding.
The full scale of the damage is still being assessed but the clean up is expected to be long and the cost is expected to be substantial.
Many schools in the region have been closed today which include Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Atihaunui a Paparangi. Okoia School, Kai Iwi School and a number of others.
For more details on routed into the township and further updates on closures you can find information here https://www.facebook.com/whanganuiawa?fref=ts