Towns right across the bottom of the South Island are dealing with significant flooding this morning.

A regional state of emergency was declared at six-o'clock Thursday night after more than a dozen rivers reached warning levels.

A welfare centre was set up Otautau, north west of Invercargill, where the river was expected to rise to bridge height. 

Welfare centres were also set up in Gore  at the Croydon Lodge and at the Mataura Community Centre. 

RNZ reporter Tess Brunton spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.