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Many areas of Christchurch are underwater, dealing with what's been described as the worst flooding since the earthquakes.
The high tide has just passed, with the rivers already running across roads and flooding into some homes.
Schools have been closed, businesses inundated and dozens of roads around the city, closed. Already more than 70mm of rain has fallen in the past 24 hours, making it the city's wettest July on record.
Now as the bad weather moves south the army has been put on standby in Dunedin for the expected deluge there.
RNZ reporters Niva Chittock, Adam Burns and cameraman Nathan McKinnon are in Christchurch with the details.