Civil defence workers on the West Coast will be on working around the clock tonight

The Hokitika River is in flood after today's heavy rain - and has been threatening to burst its banks.

Westland Civil Defence public information officer Andy Thompson says the tide is currently low - but it'll reach its peak shortly after midnight.

He says the centre will remain manned until high tide has passed - but with the highest water levels since the nineties it's a real threat.