Sandbags are being given out in Mosgiel, near Dunedin, as residents deal with surface flooding from a day of steady rain.
The rain has closed half a dozen rural roads, and East Taieri School as a precaution.
Dunedin City Council said its infrastructure coped well, and key stormwater screens were being checked.
Some city sportfields and reserves had minor surface flooding.
But the council said sandbag and sand had been available since 4pm at the Mosgiel Memorial Park car park for anyone wanting to divert water from their properties.
The rain was expected to ease, though another 15 to 20 millimetres of rain is forecast until 8pm, he said.
Motorists are being asked to drive carefully.
Two months ago the Taieri Plain suffered its second largest flood on record.
Meanwhile, the South Island's Lewis Pass has just reopened, after being blocked by snow this afternoon.
Lewis Pass is now part of the South Island's main traffic corridor, after last November's 7.8 magnitude Kaikōura earthquake devastated State Highway 1.