Residents of the Wellington region inundated by torrential rain and flooding this morning are taking stock before more rain arrives this afternoon.
But roads, homes and businesses in Kapiti, Porirua and Hutt Valley have been seriously flooded in many areas.
Roads, homes and businesses washed out as rain hammers lower North Island.
Wellington's wild weather has claimed the life of an elderly man, whose car became submerged as raging floodwaters rose across the area.
The man's car was found underwater in Bracken St, Petone with the keys in the ignition at 11.30am yesterday. Police found his body near the vehicle in floodwater in the afternoon.
The region was hammered by torrential rain and flooding yesterday, cutting the capital off from outer suburbs and cities.
Image 1 of 9: Paraparaumu College students Connor Williams, left, and Cooper Wattam, 14, using a kayak to cross a paddock in Paraparaumu May 14, 2015. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Rivers and streams burst their banks and roads, homes and businesses were washed out in Kapiti, Porirua and the Hutt Valley.
By 3.30pm, Civil Defence was urging residents from outer suburbs to stay in the city for the night.
Some households lost power.
"We've seen some poles taken out in the rural areas by floodwater so so that's why those customers will remain off overnight," a Wellington Electricity spokesman said.
Police deployed specialist teams and off-duty staff to the worst-hit areas.
Yesterday morning, a slip blocked part of State Highway 1 on the Kapiti Coast, causing chaos for commuters. Further slips and flooding struck the Paekakariki Hill area and Waikanae.
As streams surged, some residents had to leave homes in Raumati.
The Emergency Management Centre in Paraparaumu was activated and an evacuation centre set up.
In Lower Hutt, Professionals real estate employee Gareth Barlow said water was knee-deep on the street and had seeped into his office.
"There's a 5m pond in front of us. People have had to take their shoes and socks off and roll their pants up to wade out," he said.
MetService meteorologist John Law said Paraparaumu, also on the coast, had about 100mm of "incredibly intense bursts of rain" in 12 hours.
Resident Alana Smith was amazed how fast her house filled up with water. "My first impression was holy hell, that's bad."
The deluge forced the Kapiti Coast District Council to offer sandbags to affected households but they were soon in short supply.
The flooded Otaihanga Domain neat Paraparaumu. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Alastair Beissel spent the morning sandbagging his property as well as others nearby.
"I went out and grabbed whatever I could, like potting mix bags and put them round the house to keep the water out," he said.
