Heavy rain in Gisborne overnight flooded creeks, streams, and houses - forcing the evacuation of at least 15 homes.
Ten streets in the suburb of Mangapapa have been flooded.
An orange severe weather warning for heavy rain is in force for Gisborne until early afternoon... and MetService has just issued a heavy rain warning for the Wairoa District.
Gisborne mayor, Rehette Stoltz, says fire and emergency have closed roads in the area and police are going door to door.
The rain gauge at Gisborne airport shows 23.4 millimetres of rain fell between 4-and-5 this morning.
Gisborne District Council chief executive and Civil Defence spokesperson Nedine Thatcher Swann says today's flooding will be damaging, disruptive, and dirty.
RNZ reporter in Gisborne Andrew McRae spoke to Kim Hill.
