The state of emergency for residents in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne has been lifted but the ongoing risk of landslides remain, Tairāwhiti Civil Defence says.
A state of emergency was declared at 2pm on Thursday due to more than 24 hours of torrential rain falling in the region.
As at 4pm, more than 17 landslides across Mangapapa, Whataupoko, Kaitī and Wainui had been recorded in the region. They continue to be monitored.
Tairāwhiti Civil Defence group controller Dave Wilson made the call to lift the state of emergency at 3.40pm after rain had abated and water levels dropped around the region.
"Civil Defence will continue to have crews monitoring the region over the weekend, and our contractors are certainly very busy," Wilson said.
Authorities said the region marked its second wettest day on record, with three months' worth of rain falling in just two days.
Local MP Kiri Allan says she’s hopping in her truck to survey the area. (Source: Other)
The deluge caused surface flooding, slips and power outages, with some residents forced to leave their homes . Some roads remain closed due to slips and fallen trees.
A number of schools are closed.
Wilson said with the ground saturated after three days of torrential rain, landslides remain an ongoing risk.
Homes in Hill Road have been evacuated, and engineers continue to monitor the situation.
People who live on hillside or river banks are encouraged to check for signs of subsidence such as cracks, water coming out of unusual places, the sagging of lawns, retaining walls or trees on strange angles, creaking noises in the house or doors sticking.
"The current weather system is extremely variable and things can change very quickly, so everyone needs to keep abreast of the latest information," he said.
Minister for Emergency Management, Kiri Allan, signalled that Government support could be on the way if the region needed it.
Allan, also the local MP, said it had rained throughout the night, but it had eased, which she described as "fortunate".
She said if the weather holds, the response will head to clean-up.
The city itself seemed to be the worst-hit, but there is "no overwhelming damage" authorities are aware of, Allan said.
"We've got rain forecast for the next couple of days ... now I will shift into receiving reports from the local team as to what damage they're seeing and what kind of [Government] support is required," she said.
The Tairāwhiti region received three months' worth of rain in just two days. (Source: Other)
"Personally, I'll probably be in my truck surveying and making sure the community's kept safe in my local capacity.
"In a ministerial one, there'll be next steps if there's a sufficient amount of damage - that's when we start to engage in conversations with local authorities."
Allan described Tairāwhiti as a "well-connected" and "strong community", saying the deluge was not the region's first rodeo.
The minister is advising whānau to keep an eye out as "she's wet out there".
Character Roofing Surf Lifesaving emergency callout squad's Justin Martin said he was "surprised" surface water had receded in the city's streets, given there was "so much of it".
The squad had been going door-to-door on Thursday evacuating people from their homes.
Character Roofing Surf Lifesaving emergency callout squad's Justin Martin says after Thursday, he is "surprised" some of the water has receded from streets. (Source: Other)
Martin said the surface water had been getting waist-high in places and had been lapping at people's doors.
"This is getting up there," he remarked.
"It was so intense and localised it seems. We had trouble...coping with the water."
Anyone with any concerns has been urged to phone Civil Defence on 0800 653 800.
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