Evacuations have taken place in the middle of the night in areas around Gisborne, as rivers peaked in persistent heavy rain.
Houses in low-lying areas on Waingake Road, near Manutuke were asked to evacuate about 2am as the Te Arai river reached its maximum level.
Residents of low-lying areas around the Waipaoa River were told to leave about 3am and go to the local Scout Hall.
Gisborne District Council said people in other areas needed to be prepared to evacuate in the event of further river rises - and if in doubt, get out.
Tairāwhiti Civil Defence controller Dave Wilson is urging motorists to stay off the roads while the damage from surface flooding is assessed.
Several roads are closed or have cautions on them because of surface flooding and washouts, in both Tairāwhiti and neighbouring Hawke's Bay.
Read more on the floods in Tairāwhiti yesterday:
In Tairāwhiti, State Highway 35 is closed between Gisborne and Pōtaka, just north of Hicks Bay, and SH2 is closed between Matawai and Te Karaka. The northern approach to Frasertown on SH38 is also closed.
In Hawke's Bay, SH2 is closed from Napier to Wairoa due to flooding and slips.
Caution is advised on SH5 from Napier to Waipunga because of surface flooding, with slips possible in the heavy rain.
RNZ
