Homes have flooded, at least 100 people evacuated, and power and water were out to parts of Dunedin in a deluge.
The downpour, which began on Thursday and continues on Friday, sparked a local state of emergency, and the region's first ever red rain warning.
Slips and water have made many roads in the region impassable and people were urged to stay home where possible. Among them, a major slip has cut across Burkes Drive in the suburb of Maia. A video of the damage is at the top of this page.
Follow RNZ's live updates here.
Surrey Street, South Dunedin
Flooding in Dunedin Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon
Flooding in Dunedin Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon
Flooding in Dunedin Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon
Flooding in Dunedin Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon
St Clair, Dunedin
Photo: Otago Daily Times / Stephen Jaquiery
Photo: Tess Brunton/RNZ
Photo: Tess Brunton/RNZ
Photo: Tess Brunton/RNZ
Evacuation centres
Photo: Tess Brunton/RNZ
Photo: Nathan Mckinnon/RNZ
Macandrew Road, South Dunedin
Photo: Nathan Mckinnon/RNZ
Photo: Nathan Mckinnon/RNZ
Photo: Nathan Mckinnon/RNZ
Photo: Nathan Mckinnon/RNZ
Photo: Nathan Mckinnon/RNZ
Photo: Supplied / Izzi Priest-Forsyth
Photo: Supplied / Izzi Priest-Forsyth