Highlanders grounded ahead of Super clash

Jul 21, 2017 - 5:58 AM The Highlanders Super Rugby team is having difficulty getting to Christchurch for their quarter-final match against the Crusaders on Saturday.

The team's flight from Dunedin Airport on Friday night was cancelled and part of State Highway 1 between Dunedin and Christchurch is closed due to surface flooding.

A state of emergency has been declared in Timaru, to the south of Christchurch.

Team manager Greg O'Brien said the Highlanders were talking to Air New Zealand.

The problem in Dunedin was wind, rather than flooding, he said.

"We are hoping if the wind subsides we will get out," he said.

"We don't know yet," he said.

Media report remaining flights out of Dunedin on Friday night are fully booked.

"Chances on changing the game to Dunedin? we got plenty of Speights and it's warm under the roof," Highlanders first five-eighth, Lima Sopoaga, tweeted.

Extreme weather is causing some disruption to flights, Dunedin Airport tweeted.

Source: AAP