Police arrived at Dot Bowlin's Waitotara property late on Saturday afternoon as they told everyone in her street to get out.
But Mrs Bowlin, 67, told them she wasn't ready to go as the water wasn't yet a threat to her house - situated on a rise - and she had to organise her animals.
She told NZME. News Service she was pleading her case to stay when a younger policeman allegedly threw her to the ground and put her in handcuffs, aggravating an arm injury.
Police yesterday confirmed the woman was handcuffed, but said they could not comment on how she was treated during the process.
Neighbour Roma Brewer, 69, also said he was the victim of heavy-handed policing. He said as he was telling police he wasn't ready to leave, he was elbowed in the side of the head and knocked to the ground by - the pair suspect - the same policeman.
Both alleged incidents are said to have happened on the street, in full view of witnesses.
"It's unbelievable really when I think about it," Mrs Bowlin said.
"It's as though they felt we were going to rob a bank or something. The police were the biggest thing, the worst thing for us on the night. I got thrown over.
"They had me face down on the concrete. I didn't know what was going on and I was just roaring my head off. [A neighbour] was saying, 'Be careful, she's got a broken arm'," she said.
"He had a job to get me in cuffs ... We didn't even get to take any of our stuff because we were taken away."
It was so quick that Mrs Bowlin didn't even know what happened.
The pair were driven by bus to Waverley. Mrs Bowlin ended up staying with a relative, while Mr Brewer had to sleep in his ute that somebody else had fetched.
Mud still clogs every pore outside on rural Ihupuku St, but the pair's houses were not damaged.
Both had lived in the area for about 40 years and said they knew they still had time to get out on Saturday, but the police wouldn't listen.
Mrs Bowlin's grandson managed to lock the house, which had been left wide open, and when she checked the next day her animals - sheep, a cat, chooks - were safe.
"Lucky for those damn cops that they were," she said
She and Mr Brewer said the local police were normally good to deal with, but the policeman on Saturday refused to listen when they said they had a couple more hours before the water would get up too high.
"Who gives the police authority to come in and kick us out so early?" Mr Brewer asked.
He and Mrs Bowlin had both spoken to local MP Chester Borrows about the incident and Mr Brewer was also seeking legal advice.
- By Jimmy Ellingham of NZME. News Service
