Queenstown Mayor Glyn Lewers declared a state of emergency for Queenstown at 6.33am this morning.

Emergency services have been responding to a severe weather event in Queenstown, which has caused flooding and debris flows affecting the town centre. 

Here's what you need to know:

• Flooding and debris is flowing down Brecon Street towards the town centre, causing damage and requiring evacuations from multiple properties.
• Flooding and debris has also required evacuations from properties on Reavers Lane, Fryer Street and Hamilton Road.
• The affected areas are shown on the maps in the article below.• Multiple roads are closed throughout the Queenstown Town Centre and around the district. Latest details can be found here: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/weather-event-sep23
• Please avoid travel through or around the town centre. If travel is essential, please take extreme care, follow safety signage or the instructions of traffic management staff.  
• Queenstown Primary School, Whakatipu Kindergarten, other creche, and Best Start Preschool will be closed on Friday 22 September. If you are affected by these closures please contact the education facilities directly. 
• There is currently no access to the Queenstown Medical Centre. If you have an appointment on Friday 22 September, please contact the medical centre directly.  
• Contractors are also responding to a sewerage overflow at the Frankton Track. The track is currently closed, please avoid the area.

Meanwhile Southland declared a State of Emergency at 6pm last night (21 Sep) following severe flooding across the region.