Photo: Samantha Gee / RNZ
From State Highway 60, Pouesi and Hilary Fitisemanu's Riwaka home was completely surrounded by water this weekend.
The couple live next to the Motueka River and Pouesi Fitisemanu said they were prepared for the weather that hit the top of the South Island last week, but the rain came thick and fast.
"First thing Friday morning, it was all hands on deck, [there was] more water than I wanted to see, Fitisemanu said.
The Tasman District remains under a state of emergency, while officials work to determine the full scale of the damage, which has seen extensive flooding across valleys in Motueka, Tapawera, Tadmor and Wai-iti.
The Fitisemanu's land,
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