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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 47385, member: 636"] Heavy rains will return to flood-damaged areas of Tasman and Nelson on Thursday and Friday. Officials announced the forecast during cleanup efforts from weekend storms that killed one person. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell flew over the region Sunday to assess damage. State Highway 6 remains closed through Kohatu township near Motueka River. The area suffered the worst flooding from Friday and Saturday storms. Civil Defence controller Alec Louverdis said teams are preparing for another round of severe weather. State Highway 63 and the Wakefield to St Arnaud route have reopened to traffic. Cellular service remains spotty across Richmond, Wakefield and St Arnaud after landslides damaged fiber optic cables. Chorus restored some connections around St Arnaud but other areas still lack reliable communication. Civil Defence officials are working to provide Starlink internet access to affected residents. Deputy mayor Stuart Bryant said aerial views revealed extensive damage throughout Motueka Valley. Farms near Wangapeka confluence lost livestock and suffered property damage from flooding. Gravel covers many paddocks and fencing needs major repairs. The hop and cattle operations face significant recovery challenges ahead. Mitchell announced plans for a new rain radar system to serve the top of South Island. The region currently relies on distant Wellington and Westland radar stations for weather data. The minister wants better early warning systems for local decision makers. He also plans to merge NIWA and MetService operations to improve regional weather forecasting. Damage assessment teams continue surveying affected properties across both districts. [/QUOTE]

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