A southerly change would bring more showers on Sunday.
Tararua hobby farmer and rain recorder Lyn McConchie said she had been measuring rain for 25 years and this year was one of the driest she had seen.
Mrs McConchie's property in Norsewood, near the Ruahine Ranges, received 77mm of rain from Saturday up to yesterday morning.
The rain was "a relief," she said.
"Farmers are happy, but don't ask me about the hens. They're cooped up in the shed giving dirty looks."
A number of Hawke's Bay rivers were swollen following rain yesterday including the Tukituki, Ngaruroro and Tutaekuri Rivers.
Rain over the past week allowed the Central Hawke's Bay District Council Rural Fire Authority to revoke the restricted fire season yesterday and declare an open fire season.
Previously notified total fire bans remained in force on all Central Hawke's Bay beaches and adjacent public areas.
The Hastings District also returned to an open fire season.
The region was placed under a restricted fire season in early December, after a sustained period of high temperatures and little rain caused vegetation to dry out, which increased the risk of fire.
An open fire season meant the public did not need a permit to light a fire.
However, fires must be supervised until fully extinguished and should not be lit within five metres of a structure, including trees and fences, or during windy conditions.
A fire permit must be obtained from Hasting District Council if the fire is likely to burn after dark.
The inclement weather hadn't interfered with the Hawke's Bay Festival of Hockey being held in the Bay.
Media co-ordinator Alisha Neilson told Hawke's Bay Today although rain had "hampered" some games , crowds were still turning up at the event.