Watch: Fiordland river rages ferociously as tourists look on in awe

A tour bus driver travelling on the Te Anau-Milford Sound highway yesterday had never seen Falls Creek swelling the way it was.

As tourists watched on the driver filmed the rocky river turned into raging torrent as wild weather hit the western South Island yesterday.

A state of emergency remains in place for the Westland District due to heavy rain in the area.

State Highway 6 from Hokitika to Makarora is closed until further notice after multiple slips along the road and the Waiho Bridge collapsing yesterday.

Up to 100mm of rain per hour has fallen in the Westland Ranges over the past 24 hours but it's expected to clear by midday.