A man evacuated from the Maungatapu slip area in the early hours of Saturday morning describes the event as "like a bad dream".

Ned Nicely is a 76 year old American retiree who was awoken by police torches at about 1.40am on Saturday morning.

"I live in Te Mutu Crescent, which translates to 'the end' - quite ironic considering the cliff," says Ned.

"I slept through the initial slip, but I woke up to lights outside my bedroom. I thought it must have been my neighbours headlights and they were trying to park their car.

"But I soon realised the lights were far too bright. I opened up my curtain to see three police officers in raincoats shining their torches. I thought to myself 'oh my god there's been a murder'. I knew I couldn't help with their job, so I went back to bed."

Ned says he was then awoken by "a very loud bang" on his door.

Ned Nicely greeting tourists during wild weather in 2017. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

"It was a female cop who was knocking. I ran to the door in my budgy smugglers and she said to me 'you have to leave, right now'. I didn't really know what to think. I thought it must have been a bad dream."

"I packed a few things and started my car up, and called my friend in Judea to ask if I could come and stay. At this point it was about 2.30am. This is all I knew until I started reading news the next day."

Soon after being able to return to his home, Ned says he talked to his neighbours in the nearby valley, one of which has had their house "shunted" into the middle of a street during the slip.

Despite the close call with his own house, Ned says he is "relaxed" about the ongoing weather event.

"I've made no preparations for the incoming rain tonight. I've got milk in the fridge, and coffee in the jar.

"When you get to my age, you realise you've only got so many years left. If I get a free ride down hill, that's fine."

After a blood pressure scare 15 years ago, Ned says he has had to learn to relax and not get too worried about life events.

With the downpours expected to continue tonight, Ned is applying his relaxed attitude to the chance of a second evacuation.