Slip site at Otoko, northwest of Gisborne. Photo: Kate Green / RNZ
Tai Rāwhiti's state of emergency has been lifted, effective immediately, following a few days of heavy rain.
Locals are relieved the rain was not quite as heavy as forecast, but what did fall still wreaked "havoc" on a region that has had more than its average annual rainfall in less than six months.
The state of emergency was declared at 4.45pm on Thursday. Mayor Rehette Stoltz lifted it shortly after midday on Sunday.
Heavy rain was recorded at stations at Raparapaririki (565mm), Fernside Station (494mm), Mangapoike (410mm), Waerenga-o-Kuri (235mm), Waipaoa Station (227mm) and Gisborne Airport (185mm).
Tai Rāwhiti Civil Defence controller Ben Green said the "sodden and exhausted community" was prepared for the latest downpour.
"It's been great to see the relative calm across all areas. We've seen regional communities, iwi and emergency services, among others, well-prepared and they've come together for our people… They've experienced significant impact already, and we are certainly seeing signs of fatigue out there.
Slip site at Otoko, northwest of Gisborne. Photo: Kate Green / RNZ
"What does shine through though is the process of how quickly our processes and groups and structures came together as part of readiness and response operations."
On Sunday the focus turned to the clean-up. Civil Defence Tai Rāwhiti urged anyone living on or near hills to "keep an eye out for any unusual movement" such as "slumping, cracks, creaking noises, doors sticking in homes or retaining walls leaning".
Locals in shelters, roads closed
Earlier that day, more than 130 people were in shelters across the region, including in Te Karaka, Tokomaru Bay, Manutūkē and Muriwai, with many taking refuge in marae.
Green said earlier on Sunday morning the rain had eased, and where possible they would be helping people to get back into their homes.
State Highway 2 remained cut off between Tai Rāwhiti and Bay of Plenty, but was open southbound towards Hawke's Bay. The northbound lane was expected to stay closed until at least Monday.
State Highway 35 was closed until further assessments.
The region's red rain alert ended on Sunday morning, locals taking stock of significant further damage.
MetService on Saturday night forecast a further 30 to 40mm of rain would fall from Tolaga Bay north until 6am on Sunday.
Slip site at Otoko, northwest of Gisborne. Photo: Kate Green / RNZ
While the amount was not significant on its own, a high risk of slips, falling trees and dropouts remained due to the repeated drenchings in the region.
Heavy rain watches for Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay and Marlborough were also lifted, but a heavy rain watch remained in place for Westland from Sunday afternoon.
More roads damaged
Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz said the rain had caused more problems for the region's roads, with large cracks appearing and fresh landslides and dropouts.
"We have had several events this year, our network is very fragile and we will need to look at how we build resilience going forward."
She said an assessment of the damage would get underway soon and the council would be talking with the government and Waka Kotahi on ways to make the region more resilient.
Stoltz urged anyone worried about whether their property was safe after the rain, not to wait to be told officially to evacuate and to not take risks.
Residents were also urged to avoid flushing toilets and doing washing, while the wastewater system was overwhelmed.
Heavy rain caused a slip on State Highway 35 north of Tologa Bay Photo: Supplied / Dion Milner
About 300 homes were without power in Tai Rāwhiti on Saturday, with damaged roads, slips and floods preventing repair crews from getting to some areas.
By Saturday afternoon there were 48 evacuees in Tai Rāwhiti welfare centres, though more had self-evacuated to stay with families and friends. A council team was helping those in need of assistance.
Residents west of Gisborne city at Bushy Knoll were cut off after a local bridge was damaged by flooding, and also had no electricity.
In the past week, 546mm of rain had been recorded inland from Ruatoria, and about 240mm in the city.
A local volunteer in the Tai Rāwhiti township of Te Karaka said the rain had eased overnight, but there was still water across the roads.
More than 100 homes had to be evacuated in Te Karaka when heavy rain hit on Thursday.
Matawhero Lloyd said the rain had lessened and river levels had dropped about 2 metres. He said the road to Ōpōtiki on State Highway 2 remained cut off.
Lloyd said while there appeared to be a lull, they were waiting to see what the next 24 hours might bring.
Tai Rāwhiti remained under an orange heavy rain warning.
