More rain is expected tonight in the Gisborne region, which is already in a state of emergency after torrential rain caused flooding, rescues and evacuations in East Cape overnight of Tuesday.
Tolaga Bay flooding. Photo: Supplied / Justin Martin
Tairāwhiti Civil Defence declared a state of emergency after the deluge forced evacuations and trapped people in floodwaters in the Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay areas.
Emergency Management Minister and East Coast MP Kiritapu Allan said 150 people had been evacuated.
In an update after 9pm, Gisborne Civil Defence issued another flood warning for the Tolaga Bay area, saying the Hikuwai River is at 9.6 metres and rising.
Civil Defence urged residents to evacuate in flood prone areas or if they think they are at risk.
Gisborne Civil Defence manager Ben Green said the rainfall was a lot heavier and had come in sooner than expected. "I'd almost describe it as biblical," he said.
State Highway 35 from Gisborne around East Cape to Potaka was closed because of flooding, slips and washouts. However, Tairawhiti residents were given a four-hour window to travel between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay and from Potaka and Ruatoria before the road shut again.
MetService has upgraded their forecast to issue a red severe weather warning with the next band of heavy rain expected to hit the Gisborne region later today and on Thursday.
Look back at how the day unfolded with RNZ's liveblog:
Ruatoria resident John Logan had to scoop up his family in a tractor as floodwaters rose rapidly into their house. The whānau from Makarika Valley in Ruatoria near the flooded Mata River had water up to their thighs inside the home.
Tairāwhiti Civil Defence ordered the evacuation of residents in the Mangatuna area north of Gisborne, because the Hikuwai River is at a very high level and more rain is expected.
Tolaga Bay Civil Defence has been set up and anyone in immediate danger of flooding should move to higher ground, civil defence says.