A Hawke's Bay school has been forced to cancel a major fundraiser, with bad weather expected to lash the region this weekend.
The region is currently under a heavy rain watch, and locals can expect to be soaked until Sunday morning.
For the community around Eskdale School, which was hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle in February, the news is devastating.
The PTA was hoping to raise $25,000 for the school at its only fundraiser — a market day.
It was hoped the money could help make a number of upgrades to the school, including a new junior playground.
"It is pretty emotional with this weather looming and just having to make the call to cancel," PTA chairperson Brett Barnes told Breakfast.
"We've had so many stall holders that have come from all around the country, and we just need to give them notice.
"It's a bit of an emotional toll on some of our PTA members and our community as well."
Michelle Barnes said it had been "six months of work, day and night" to get the fundraiser going, which was set to see 165 stall holders selling.
Brett said the school was central to the community, and a fundraiser could've helped raise people's spirits post-cyclone.
"Everybody is busy post-cyclone with their own recoveries, the community rallies around each other," he said.
"But as a school, the community relies on the school as well.
"Any funds we can get always go back into the children."
He said they tried their best to push out the event — but the bad weather just wouldn't allow it.
"We were hoping it was gonna move out or come forward, but it just consolidated.
"We would normally be spending this Friday getting organised on the ground, but with this weather coming, we just knew we wouldn't be able to mark it out."
The pair said that if people would like to help support the school, they can donate via their website.
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