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Flooding seen from the air just outside of Te Karaka, near Gisborne. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
In Te Karaka, inland from Gisborne, 500 people were evacuated at 5am on Tuesday, heading for safety on higher ground.
They were left stranded for more than a day with no communication.
It's an area that will be visited by the Prime Minister Chris Hipkins today.
RNZ's Mani Dunlop tells Kathryn residents of the area feel it's taken too long to get help.