Residents in Gisborne can give their gardens a much-needed watering after days of bans and rationing.
The council has lifted the hose ban established after the main pipeline supplying water to the city was cut by a massive landslide on 6 Janaury. Severe water rationing for households had been lifted on Tuesday.
Gisborne District Council's water crisis response manager Dave Hadfield said residents can use use hand held hoses on their gardens at any time, and sprinkler systems on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6pm to 8pm.
The total fire ban has also been lifted in Gisborne city but the district is still in a restricted fire season.
Mr Hadfield says repairs have cost up to $400,000 which has come out of the council's reserve fund and will have no impact on ratepayers.