Heavy rain brought by former cyclone Fili is causing damage as it falls on already sodden ground around Tairāwhiti and Wairoa.
A red rain warning is in place for those regions, where steady rain has been falling since the early hours, and the wet weather is expected to get much worse this afternoon.
Strong wind warnings are also in place for Gisborne, Northern Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua.
Tairāwhiti and Wairoa were badly hit by a storm just three weeks ago, which led to widespread flooding, slips, and damaged roads.
Māni Dunlop gets the latest from RNZ reporter Jimmy Ellingham who is in Te Akau o Tokomaru - Tokomaru Bay.
