A week's worth of consistent rain and occasional bursts of high winds has led to a week's worth of work for clean-up contractors on SH2 between Bay View and Wairoa.
"We expect most of the activity this week will be focused on a clean-up of slips as a result of the current weather conditions," New Zealand Transport Agency Napier journey manager Oliver Postings said.
For the work crews it is a case of fingers crossed for a few days of rain respite, which at this stage is what Metservice is promising, although showers are forecast to return on Thursday and intermittently through until Saturday.
"Make the most of Tuesday and Wednesday," was how MetService meteorologist Angus Hines put it.
Strong northerlies will be the first sign of things changing, as they spread over the country from Wednesday evening, with rain following shortly after.