Rain over the weekend that caused evacuations and postponements around the country has finally eased – for now.

The rising river levels in Gisborne that caused some residents around the area to leave their homes on Sunday morning have dropped and the clean-up has begun.

MetService meteorologist Alec Holden says while it was still a “wet” and “miserable” day on Sunday, Gisborne was “heading out of the woods”.

Gisborne District Council had contractors clearing debris from the William Pettie Bridge and Gladstone Rd Bridge on Sunday, with roads closed and traffic management in place while the work was being completed.

Te Karaka’s Waipoa River crept up to 7 metres in the early hours of Sunday which caused the Tairāwhiti Civil Defence to set up a headquarters at Te Karaka Area School. 

Fitzherbert St roundabout at Ormond Rd, through to the Harris St and Rutene Rd intersection was later closed for machinery to be brought in to help.

The heavy rain not only brought rising water levels but created slips on roads in the area. One person died after their vehicle crashed into a slip on SH2 south of Wairoa. 

The river near Inner Kaiti’s Anzac Park has again flooded. Photo: Wendy Campbell.

Police say the landslide had blocked the road and drivers were warned to avoid the area. Anyone wanting to travel between Napier and Wairoa could use Awamete Rd, which had recently reopened, they say.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country can look forward to a fine and sunny day, with only a few showers in the lower South Island.

Poppy Clark/Stuff