A clean up will get underway in Tairawhiti today after the region was drenched by rain yesterday.
Three months of rain fell in 36 hours. Roads turned into lakes and there were widespread power outages as well as a number of slips.
Some residents of Sponge Bay, Pouawa and Loisels in Gisborne were forced to leave their homes with emergency services having to use inflatable rescue boats for some evacuations.
Gisborne and nearby areas remain in a state of emergency but a heavy rain warning has been lifted.
Reporter Māni Dunlop is in Sponge Bay.
She spoke to Corin Dann.
