Gisborne weather: More heavy rain on the way for Tairāwhiti, local state of emergency in place

From RNZ

Gisborne remains in a state of emergency, with two more days of torrential rain ahead and Civil Defence warning the weather will worsen this afternoon.

A red heavy rain warning is in place for Tairāwhiti, with MetService warning up to 260mm of rain could accumulate around Tolaga Bay by midday on Sunday on top of what has already fallen.

More than 130 people have left their homes in Te Karaka, which has been cut off by flood waters.

At least 150 homes are without electricity.

Dozens of roads are closed and residents have reported massive landslips as sodden hillsides collapse.

Here's a look at the rain radar over central and northern NZ 🌧👀

Watch out for some heavy falls currently affecting Northland, Auckland this morning.

Rain in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay is expected to intensify later today.

Keep an eye on the radar at https://t.co/prKU7NLNY1 pic.twitter.com/Bz9imxUGpD

— MetService (@MetService) June 22, 2023

So far the Waipaoa River is the only one that has burst its banks, Gisborne Civil Defence controller Ben Green told RNZ this morning, but authorities are keeping a close eye on a number of others.

Civil Defence has asked residents in low-lying areas not to wait for an official evacuation order and leave if they feel unsafe.

House of Breakthrough and Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae are open as evacuation centres.

Road closures

The region has been essentially isolated from the rest of the country.

State Highway 2 is closed from Gisborne to Matawai, and SH35 from Gisborne to Ruatoria.

Further south, flooding at Eskdale closed SH5 between Napier and Taupō, and SH2 from Napier to Wairoa.

A persistent flow of moisture coming from sub-tropics & tropics will be the fuel for rain through the weekend.

Already wet conditions & the prospect for heavy rain, flooding & slips will continue to be a real concern for the next few days in the Gisborne/Hawke's Bay regions. pic.twitter.com/h72YDTtPyo

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) June 22, 2023

“We’ve got about 61 local roads closed,” Gisborne mayor Rehette Stoltz said. “We are asking our community if you see any landslides let us know, also surface flooding. And if you don’t have to travel please don’t travel.”

‘Constant state of recovery’

Stoltz said the bad weather for the region began on January 10 with Cyclone Hale and hasn’t stopped.

“It feels to me we’re in a constant state of response and recovery and we’re just not getting a break to do the work we need to do to get our region back on its feet.”

Warnings for Coromandel, BOP

Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty west of Te Puke, as well as the Ruahine Range, Kaweka Forest Park, Hawke’s Bay - south of State Highway 5 - and eastern Marlborough, south of Ward, are under orange heavy rain warnings.

Hawke’s Bay, north of State Highway 5 and the ranges of Tasman west of Motueka are under yellow heavy rain watches.