And while the mop-up is underway for residents in Mataura, locals are rallying together to muck in and help.
RNZ reporter Sarah Robson put her gumboots on and went to check out how it's going.
Discarded items following the flooding in Mataura. Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson
Mataura's community centre. Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson
Alison Bishop's house after the flooding. Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson
Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson
Flooding in Mataura Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson
Flooding in Mataura. Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson