MetService says the heaviest rain has eased off for Tairāwhiti "for now" as the region remains under a local state of emergency and a red heavy rain warning.
But the sodden region is not out of the woods yet. In a tweet, MetService said Friday evening will see the rain "ramp up again".
Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz said the declaration gives Tairāwhiti Civil Defence emergency powers for the coordination of the emergency response given there is a significant amount of rain still to come.
Tairāwhiti Gisborne is among several regions under MetService's severe weather warnings, and on Thursday afternoon MetService upgraded the region to a red heavy rain warning - its highest warning level.
The red heavy rain warning is in effect from 3pm Thursday to noon Sunday. MetService said the heaviest rain is expected on Thursday and then again on Friday.
"People are advised surface flooding, slips and disruption to transport are likely, and some communities may become isolated," said MetService's website.
Stoltz told Newshub "everything is saturated" and river levels have forced residents in Te Karaka to evacuate.
"We issued an evacuation order and fire and emergency and police are assisting that community to evacuate."
Stoltz said people have already been self-evacuating from their homes in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
She said welfare centres have been opened at Te Poho-o-Rāwiri Marae and the House of Breakthrough, with some rural marae also opening their doors.
But there is concern about just how wet the ground is, Stoltz said.
Waka Kotahi said flooding has forced the closure of State Highway 35 from Okitu to Ruatoria.
Additionally, State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Napier will be closed from 5pm, meaning Gisborne and Wairoa will be cut off from the rest of the country on Thursday night with all main roads closed.
Stoltz said the region is expecting "huge amounts of rain" over the next few days.
"We are asking everyone just to be vigilant. But if possible, don't travel if you don't have to."
Stoltz said the heavy rain is a "cruel blow" to her community "that has been on its knees since January".
"It is just never-ending. We are trying to fix our networks. We are trying to get our community to move back into their homes to make it safe again. And it feels like we are just never getting a break."
Residents are asked to call in any strange movement around their homes whether it be the land or structures.
"MetService is forecasting 60-90mm of rainfall from midnight Thursday through to 6pm Friday. From Friday through to Sunday noon 200-300mm is forecast for areas north of Uawa with widespread heavy rainfall across the whole region."
Peak intensities could reach 15-25mm an hour, with parts of Tairāwhiti already recording more than 100mm in the past 24 hours.
"There are a significant number of landslides across the region with 61 local roads closed or significantly obstructed."
Tairāwhiti emergency management manager Ben Green said "sustained rainfall [is] expected across the entire region until noon Sunday".
"If you live by a river and you're concerned, please make a decision to evacuate during daylight hours."
Green said some rivers are already "very high" and the region and could reach evacuation thresholds.
Video provided to Newshub shows the Waikohu River rapidly rising, with flooding surrounding farmland and roads.
"The water table is also very high in our region and this extra rain over the weekend will cause surface flooding," Green said.
He said the region's roads remain "fragile" and is asking residents to take care and drive to the conditions.
"Please also watch for land movement on your property as we have already had reports of landslips around the city."
Green said river levels are being closely monitored and are updated every half an hour on Council's website.
He encourages residents to check the Tairāwhiti Civil Defence Facebook page for updates.
