Hundreds of properties in Napier were still without power late last night and at least 19 homes in the city have now been deemed uninhabitable.
A sudden downpour on Monday caught many by surprise with at least two months worth of rain falling in just a few hours, overwhelming drains and wastewater systems.
A heavy rain watch remains in place for Hawke's Bay until 8pm on Tuesday and about 30 people are staying at a welfare centre at Kennedy Park.
The Wepa family decided to leave their house in the badly flooded South Napier suburb of Marewa on Monday evening.
Christine Wepa told RNZ's Harry Lock that it quickly came to a point where they had no choice.
