Clean-up time in Rotorua: 'It looked like a river was flowing'

The clean-up continues in Rotorua's eastern suburbs, after rain battered the city causing flash flooding and power outages.

More than 33mm of rain fell over the course of an hour last night.

Worst affected areas included Lynmore and Owhata (both sides of Te Ngae Rd), Holdens Bay and Hannahs Bay and out to near the airport, with surface flooding also reported on several roads including Vaughan Rd, Warwick Drive and Iles Rd.

About 100 customers lost power in the Te Ngae Rd, Lee Rd and Hannah Rd areas and motorists were urged to take extra care on the roads.

For one family in Holdens Bay the clean up job won't be over by Christmas.

Ankle-deep water ran through their living room, kitchen, garage and laundry during the downpour.

"At one point the washing basket was floating," Nicole Littlejohn said.

"My parents have lived here for four years and they've never had anything like this before. It looked like a river was flowing on either side of the house and we were stuck in the middle."

Littlejohn's parents moved to Rotorua following the Christchurch earthquake and she said after already having one house destroyed this was the last thing they needed.

Water damage in the living room of a Holdens Bay property. Photo / Supplied

"It had started flowing into the garage first. As we were trying to deal with it, mum came out the back yelling that it was coming in the lounge.

"We lost power and could see the lightning above us, it just kept going and going. By half past seven we were just like, thank crap it has stopped, but it was mental."

Once the rain stopped Littlejohn said the water receded pretty quickly and that was when they could see the damage.

"There's a lot that has been damaged, even a few Christmas presents under the tree."

She said they instantly took brooms and mops to the kitchen floor and had to get a team in to dry out the carpet.

"Where the wood joins it has all lifted, not what we were looking forward to a week out from Christmas."

Rotorua Lakes Council said it had received 15 calls related to the flooding in Rotorua's eastern suburbs.

"There has been no further flooding reported since.

"Council staff, InfraCore and Fulton Hogan crews were out throughout the evening attending to flooded properties and council has been in contact with affected residents.

"Council staff and InfraCore crews were out again this morning following up the issues reported overnight."

The council said the concentrated location and amount of water that fell in such a short period of time overwhelmed drainage in some locations.

"No roads have been closed and power has been restored in all locations."

Flash flooding on Te Ngae Rd. Photo / Stephen Parker

Jonathan Dodd, a resident at Lynwood Pl, Owhata, said he had never seen anything like it before.

He filmed the water as it came pouring over his garden and used garden bags and liners to cover the base of his ranch slider.

"One of the neighbours said he hadn't seen it raining that heavy since 1999 when they had to cancel the marathon.

"It went from a novelty to being quite serious. There was a moment where we worried how much would come into the house, but it could have been worse."

He said today the water mark on his garden fence showed it came up to a foot deep.

"It came and went so fast, it was just an unreal intensity."

MetService meteorologist Sarah Haddon said Rotorua could expect more rainfall over the next few days, but "nowhere near as significant" as last night.

"There will be showers overnight, but Thursday should be fine.

"The rain could be a bit heavier on Friday and then patchy showers over the weekend.

"Cloud will still be hanging around, but hopefully it should be a warm and dry Christmas Day for Rotorua."