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State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupo has been closed to all traffic and six people have been evacuated from a small settlement north of Gisborne as rivers swollen by heavy rain in the region threaten to flood.
The residents of Mangatuna village, north of Tolaga Bay, were moved out this morning as the Uawa River rose from its usual four metres to 11 metres.
Since last night a "phenomenal" 250mm of rain had fallen in the region, said Civil Defence controller Jon Davies.
Authorities are on alert as more rain is forecast to fall today on already saturated ground.
Police say SH5 has been closed due to widespread slips and flooding.
Motorists on SH2 between Napier and Wairoa are also being advised to take extreme care in the wet conditions and the section of that highway between Dymock Road and Wharatutu Road has been closed due to surface flooding.
Residents close to the Waipaoa River, near Te Karaka, have been warned that banks could be breached if the rain continued.
The water in the area is still rising and police say there is no estimated time for either SH5 or the affected parts of SH2 to reopen.
Met Service said more heavy rain was expected in the Gisborne region today, spreading to Hawkes Bay where 120-180mm was forecast near the hills and ranges until noon tomorrow.
A further 40-70mm is likely after that.
There have also been reports of surface flooding in Tauranga, Papamoa and Te Aroha and thunderstorms in Tirau.
Some Bay of Plenty and Waikato residents have left reports on the weatherwatch.co.nz website about overflowing watertanks and backyards that now resemble swimming pools.
Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says the main rain band is yet to move into the region and predicts worse to come.
"We're actually seeing a small stream of rain over Waikato and Bay of Plenty while regions on either side are dry or only have showers," he said.
Mr Duncan says isolated thunderstorms will continue to affect the upper North Island for the rest of the day with localised downpours heavy enough to cause surface or flash flooding.
Evactuations and road closures following flooding
View Flooding causes evacuation in a larger map
- NZPA, NZ HERALD STAFF
