A small number of houses in the Waikato are being evacuated after further flooding from the Piako River.
Police say the river bank has overflowed, causing flooding near Patetonga and the Paeroa-Tahuna Rd and Awaiti Rd areas.
Hauraki District Council Mayor John Tregidga says they have evacuated "a handful" of farms in the area; between six and eight houses.
He told Newshub the area is known for overflow in times of heavy rain, "but this time there are more than expected".
"Farms have gone underwater."
Mr Tregidga says the land has been "completely overloaded" with water, and it will be some time before it drains.
"I expect the properties will be underwater for a number of days, even up to a week, depending on where they are."
Waikato Regional Council's hazards team leader Rick Liefting said the spilling of water to ponding areas was part of the way the flood management scheme is designed to operate. There are specific designated ponding areas in the Tramline Rd area.
"We can expect to see elevated water levels within the ponding areas for at least the next few days," he said.
"The good news is that water levels are receding in upstream areas, giving us a more favourable outlook for river levels and surface flooding for the rest of the week."
Motorists are asked to avoid travel in the area.
Newshub.
