Hundreds of Nelson residents have spent the night away from their homes after being evacuated when the Maitai River burst its banks.
Some of the 230 houses evacuated have been flooded.
Another 10 homes on the Tahunanui hills in Nelson have also been evacuated overnight because of a slip. Nelson is under state of emergency and a heavy rain warning remains in place until 11pm Thursday.
Soldiers have been patrolling the cordoned streets overnight.
Nelson's mayor Rachel Reese said the Maitai river rose surprisingly quickly, and today won't be much easier.
