A burst hot-water pipe shut down Tauranga massage parlour Maiden Heaven and a downstairs adult supplies shop yesterday.
The pipe connected to a shower overflowed for so long that water had reached a depth of about 40mm in places before Tauranga firefighters were called to the flooded upstairs premises at 503 Cameron Rd.
Senior Station Officer Phil Price said salvage sheets were draped over the stock of the adult shop and neighbouring Industrial Footwear and Safety to stop damage from water dripping down from above.
Hundreds of litres of hot water were mopped down the stairs by firefighters and pushed out on to the footpath.
"It created a waterfall down the stairs."