A red heavy rain warning has been issued for parts of Otago with up to 150 millimetres of rain expected to fall in some areas.
Residents in Otago and Dunedin have been warned to stay off the roads and go home.
Coromandel Peninsula was dealing with power cuts and blocked roads on Thursday morning.
Roads are closed across Dunedin and Clutha due to flooding and slips, with those in low-lying areas of Dunedin "encouraged" to evacuate as floodwaters threaten their homes.
Follow RNZ's live blog for updates:
