The Kapiti Coast, Wairarapa and other areas of the lower North Island have been hit by severe weather overnight, resulting in widespread flooding.
Farmer Kris Trass said his house in Mauriceville, Masterton was "totally surrounded" by a moat of floodwater and was using a quad bike to get in and out of the property.
"The sheep and everything are stuck up around the house and I had to save the pig who was swimming in water," he said.
State Highway 1, north of Manakau in Horowhenua, was closed as floodwaters had undermined the banks of the Waikawa Stream Bridge, the NZTA said.
