Parts of the South Island are being lashed by heavy rain, while wind gusts of up to 140 kilometres-per-hour are forecast in the Canterbury high country and Marlborough. Orange heavy rain warnings are in place for the Westland, Buller and Grey districts, the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers south of Arthur's Pass, the Tasman district north-west of Motueka and the ranges of Nelson and Marlborough between Nelson city and the Awatere River, along with Nelson Lakes National Park. Gusts of up to 140 kilometres-per-hour are forecast in exposed places in Canterbury high country, Marlborough, Wellington and Taranaki, with orange strong wind warnings in place from Friday afternoon. MetService meteorologist David Miller said some South Island rain gauges had already recorded 100-130 millimetres in a 24-hour period. "We've had some heavy rain in the ranges of the Tasman District and Westland on Thursday," he said.…