Heavy rain has lashed Tairāwhiti for much of the last week. Photo: Supplied/ Eastland Network
MetService expects rain falling in storm-damaged Tairāwhiti will get heavier in the next few hours.
It has extended its heavy rain warning for the area north of Tolaga Bay until 9am Thursday.
Tairāwhiti Civil Defence Manager Ben Green says rainfall across the region is at a drizzle, but the area is still fragile and remains in a state of emergency.
Officers were watching the situation from stations in the area and would be checking roads for slips as more rain falls this evening, he said.
Green said the biggest risks for the region were saturated ground, roading network failures and further landslides.
