Waihi Beach is in major cleanup mode after a torrent of water washed through pensioner housing, surf club and surrounding homes amid flash flooding.
One resident, Dave Rosevear, has lost almost all his worldly goods.
"I opened the door and the force of the water was so strong it pushed me back," he told Newshub. "It's pushed my fridge over [and] my oak table."
On Monday afternoon, 120mm of rain fell in two hours.
The Waihi Beach Surf Club ground floor is awash with mud and water, and president Dave Litton said at least $10,000 worth of gear has been damaged.
Many families spend the night taking shelter with family, friends or at the local RSA - unable to stay put in flooded homes.
Reaching 1m high in some areas, about 50 people were forced to evacuate.
Western Bay of Plenty District Mayor James Denyer told AM Waihi Beach had never seen such wild weather.
"One resident - he'd lived there 70 years and had never seen anything like it," Denyer said.
"I think there will be a bit of a clean-up. The council's welfare team will be on hand this morning and we also have rapid building assessment [teams]."
