Gisborne's heavy rain watch has been upgraded to an orange heavy rain warning and other surrounding cyclone-hit areas could be in for some unwelcome rain too.
MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning for Gisborne from Tolaga Bay northwards from Monday 7am to Tuesday 4am.
MetService says 70 to 100mm of rain could fall on top of the already sodden ground.
"Peak rates of 15 to 25mm/h. Localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h, mainly this morning."
Bay of Plenty east of Kawerau has been issued a heavy rain watch from Monday 7am to Monday 4pm. Metservice predicts periods of heavy rain with possible thunderstorms and localised downpours too.
"Raillfall amounts may approach or possibly exceed warning criteria in localised areas."
Coromandel Penisula has been issued a heavy rain watch too from Monday 9am to Tuesday 3am.
"Periods of heavy rain with possible thunderstorms and localised downpours. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria," MetService's website said.
Gisborne Civil Defence Controller Ben Green told AM the rain began to fall in the city centre from about 6am on Monday.
He said "only a couple" of the region's rainfall monitoring alarms were triggered as a result.
"We'd probably certainly see some rain, but at this stage, given we have had a heavy rain watch, it hasn't been pinging off our rainfall alerts," he told AM before MetService's watch was upgraded to a warning.
The heavy rain hasn't initiated any evacuations by Civil Defence, but Green said following the most recent heavy rain events, residents are prepared for the worst.
"They're packed with a bag ready. Put yourself in their scenario, you're never really sort of feeling the fact that you can put your feet up fully."
And for some residents devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle, getting back into their own homes could take some time.
"What we clearly need to do is get people back in their own homes and that for some, for a number, at least is not something that's doable in the short term," Green said.
Green told AM eight homes have been red-stickered in the region and about 144 yellow-stickered.
He added the yellow-stickered homes would be inspected on Monday, so the number could change.
But there is some slight relief for the region - small businesses can now operate with water, following a tweak to the region's water restrictions.
The Gisborne District Council says there is no change to restrictions for residents.
The changes affect bars and restaurants, but they must have water reduction strategies in place.
"The ban on all outdoor use continues, with water to be used for drinking and hygiene purposes only," council's drinking water team leader Judith Robertson.
"The situation we are facing as a community is as bad as it’s ever been."
