Around 10 households are cleaning up after being flooded in Kawerau.
Floodwaters were up to one metre high around 4am, especially in the centre of town.
Half a dozen cars have been abandoned because of water that reached vehicle windows in some cases.
Mayor Malcolm Campbell said generally when you get rain like this, it's disappeared by now.
But he said the rain is continuing, which is making it unpleasant for some people.