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Flooded and impassable roads have trapped seven residents inland from Ruatoria as the Mata River washed aweay road access.
Local resident Jeremy Williams told Radio NZ that "raging, vicious and dirty" flood waters have left a "great big hole where the council road used to be".
He also said waters from local rivers were likely to take down phone lines as rain continues to fall.
Heavy rain in the Gisborne area today has seen slips, surface flooding and road closures as the local civil defence centre goes on alert.
Earlier today, rivers in the Gisborne area were threatening to top their banks but Gisborne Civil Defence spokeswoman Sheridan Gundry said the swollen rivers had begun to drop.
She said Civil Defence was on alert and evacuations wiould go ahead if the situation worsens.
Civil Defence controller Jon Davies said the main areas of concern were the flats north of Tologa Bay, Te Karaka and Manutuke.
This afternoon he said a further 17 hours of rain was expected to drop between 100mm and 150mm in the ranges with a further 50 to 80mm expected on the coast and in Gisborne.
Gisborne District Council staff were working to reopen seven roads closed by slips and surface flooding this morning. The Matahiia Road was closed until further notice and delays of up to half an hour were expected for traffic on Tauwhareparae, Fernside, Mata and Ihungia roads.
Mr Davies said last night three families north of Tolaga Bay were warned about the rising river. The three families chose to stay in their homes and monitor the river themselves.
He said the heaviest falls in the past 24 hours have been near the Raparapaririki Forest - inland from Ruatoria - where 220mm fell. The Waikura Valley saw 200mm and Hikuwai got 208mm.
Mr Davies said that another 100 to 150mm was expected in the ranges over the next 24 hours with another 50 to 80mm in coastal areas and the city. This was expected to ease off to showers by Thursday.
"The district is now quite soaked to the north, with the land having reached saturation point. If the Waipaoa River continues to rise, there could be problems in the Te Karaka area.
"The highway at Puha floods when the river reaches 7m, and at Nesbitt's Dip at 8.3m.
He said people in the Gisborne area can listen to their radios and council's website
He said the Ihungia Road, State Highway 35 north of Tolaga Bay and State Highway 2 at Tutira, have been closed due to rising lake levels.
"It is fortunate that it is now daytime. This makes it easier for the Civil Defence team to watch river levels as they approach critical states and easier to warn any affected residents if required."
The New Zealand Transport Agency is warning motorists to drive with caution.
NZTA reports that the rain is likely to lead to flooded rivers and slips which could lead to "hazardous driving conditions".
Further south, the highway between Napier and Wairoa has reopened, but it may be short-lived, reported Newstalk ZB.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council is warning heavy rain may boost lake levels and flood the highway again.
The council says fresh slips and debris are likely on State Highway 2 between Napier and Wairoa and on State Highway 5 connecting Napier and Taupo.
Extreme caution is being advised and any non-essential trips should be avoided.
- NZ Herald staff
