Gisborne locals will get the chance to clean up today after bad weather drenched the region yesterday, but some roads remain closed.
Flooding yesterday at a hill country farm 50km west of Gisborne. Photo: Sam Hain
Roads were flooded and police had to go to the rescue of a number of trapped motorists yesterday.
Civil Defence controller Peter Higg told Morning Report the weather had been better overnight, with a clearer forecast ahead.
He said the focus was now on the clean up, with a number of individuals having flooded basements, and sewage problems.
But a stretch of State Highway 2 between Napier and Wairoa was still closed near the settlement of Turiroa.
That section runs alongside the Wairoa River, which has risen significantly since heavy rain began yesterday. A decision will be made today on when to open the road.
Meanwhile, in Gisborne, the highway has re-opened near Te Karaka. Gisborne Civil Defence Manager Louise Bennett said motorists still needed to take extra care.
The Gladstone Road bridge in Gisborne has been reopened after contractors worked through the night to clear debris from flooding.
Debris washed up at a Gisborne bridge yesterday has been cleared. Photo: RNZ/Murray Robertson
