Lucky to survive, the occupants of a car near Waihi were among the first casualties of the greasy roads on Sunday. And this is just the start.
"It's not pretty - this is the last thing we need right now," said Thames-Coromandel Civil Defence controller Garry Towler.
Coromandel and Bay of Plenty are copping it right now. An active front associated with a subtropical low has officials warning to brace yourself.
"It's the next five to seven days that really concern us. We are planning now for perhaps a metre of rain in the next seven days, certainly 700mm-plus," Towler said.
MetService meteorologist William Nepe said the cause is a low sitting to the northwest of the North Island.
"It leaves behind an unsettled northerly flow which is expected to bring further rain to western and northern parts of both islands for the rest of the week, including areas that are affected by the current event," he told Newshub.
In Tairua, it feels like here we go again.
"Where I live on the Tapu there are a lot of slips below us… the road could shut at any stage and you can't get home or can't get out," one person said.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed, we don't want to be without power again, that was a nightmare," another added.
Less than three months on, the hangover from Cyclone Gabrielle continues to cause headaches with almost 200 slips still scarring the Coromandel network alone. And the latest forecast doesn't help.
Waka Kotahi and its contractors have been working hard for three months to shore up slips between Hikuai and Whangamata but with winds up to 100km/h expected to pound the area in the coming days, it could be vulnerable.
"Not one of them has been fully repaired since Gabrielle and Hale so we are concerned about them - they are fragile," Towler said.
With up to 220mm of rain expected for Bay of Plenty by Tuesday and 180mm for Coromandel, residents in low-lying areas are warned to be on alert. And for those perched high on hillsides, Towler said they will be mobilising more building inspectors to come and assist.
So stoke up the fire, stay away from the beaches, take your time on the roads and check on the vulnerable.
"Everyone looks after each other, that's why we live here... except for days like this!" one local said.
