New Zealand west coast hit by heavy floods after month of rain falls in one weekend

Heavy rain caused slips, rivers to break their banks, and more than 2,000 residents to be evacuated

New Zealand's west coast has been hit by severe flooding, with a local state of emergency declared and thousands evacuated from their homes.

The latest floods arrived in the aftermath of heavy rains and storms over the past two months that prompted states of emergency in Canterbury and Wellington.