Napier is under a state of local emergency after the city was pummelled by rain on Monday evening.
Flood waters tore through the streets of Napier last night, leading to evacuations, improvised rescue missions, and widespread damage.
Torrential rain in the space of a few hours saw parts of the city submerged in half a metre or more of water.
A Hastings man was one of several four wheel drive enthusiasts who lent a hand rescuing people trapped by flood waters last night.
After taking to Facebook and asking if anybody needed help, Jason Christensen was inundated with pleas for assistance.
He rescued two people trapped in their cars and gave another person a ride home from the centre of town after they became surrounded by flooding.
He told Conan Young one couple got more than they bargained for after they got in their car to do some sightseeing.
