Photo: Julia Sudnitskaya / 123RF
State Highway 35 at Tolaga Bay has reopened to one lane and is expected to be fully reopened by mid-morning.
Flooding on Saturday closed a stretch of SH35 overnight between Wharf Road, just south of Tolaga Bay, and Okitu.
Dozens were evacuated and spent the night at Tolaga Bay Area School's gymnasium, many of whom have now been able to return.
A majority of the evacuees were tent campers from Tolaga Bay Top 10 Camp, who moved early Saturday night.
Despite the road reopening, NZ Transport Agency / Waka Kotahi urged caution for travellers. It asked anyone in the area to be alert to possible flooding, slips and debris in other parts of the region.
Crews were also monitoring a build up of woody debris around Gladstone Road bridge on SH35 in Gisborne.
Ūawa deputy civil defence officer Nori Parata told RNZ the rain had been torrential.
"We had to open up the base because there are a number of travellers that had got caught with the road closure, and also didn't have appropriate vehicles for that kind of situation.
"But equally we also had the holiday camp [at Tolaga Bay] needed to evacuate people that were camping in tents down there. So I think we've got about 80 people in our gym between the travellers and the campers."
Parata said there were plenty of mattresses in the school gym for evacuees and anyone else caught out by the flooding, and the Civil Defence base was well-equipped with kai and other supplies.
"We're set up to cater in these emergencies. This is not our first rodeo."
Parata said the Tolaga Bay Holiday Park had just reopened this season after recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle three years ago.
Shanan Gray from Tolaga Bay Civil Defence hoped the worst was over on Sunday. He told RNZ it had been pelting down overnight, but had since eased.
"The wind is quite heavy at the moment, so hopefully it is pushing the rain out to sea," he said.
MetService meterologist Braydon White said rain of more than 50mm/h had fallen in Tolaga Bay since 8pm on Saturday.
While the orange-level heavy rain warning had expired at 8am, White said there had been some reasonably large accumulations of rainfall on Sunday morning too, especially on the East Cape.
Ūawa Civil Defence has warned on Facebook that the wharf bridge was "underwater and dangerous".
"Do not go near it or try to cross. Please stay home, stay off the roads, and keep yourself safe."
Gisborne residents told to be prepared
Meanwhile, Tai Rāwhiti Civil Defence is monitoring the situation in the city of Gisborne. Group controller Ben Green told RNZ there was a lot of surface flooding across the region, but the Waimatā River and the Tarahiru River had remained steady overnight.
It was feared residents would have to be evacuated after the Waimatā River measured at 7m and the Tarahiru River at 4.26m at 11pm.
Green said access to Tolaga Bay had also been restored, after a slip had closed the gorge on Saturday night.
Tai Rāwhiti Civil Defence would be looking into the impact of the flooding on Sunday.
In a video message, Green said the focus was on the Taruheru River, which flowed through Gisborne City.
"What we're asking people to do is adopt a 'be prepared' and cautious approach to really monitoring the river.
"If you haven't already done so, check in with your neighbours. Make sure that they're aware of what the current situation is. In the worst case if you do feel unsafe then, certainly, proactively evacuate if you are uncomfortable with that situation."
Green said Fire and Emergency had been keeping people informed on Fergusson Drive and other low-lying streets.
He said people could sign up for text alerts through the Gisborne District Council website.
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