Weather

The weather system bringing the torrential rain to Tairāwhiti is moving down the island.

An orange alert has been issued for Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa.

Metservice meteorologist David Miller is on… Video, Audio

Gisborne remains cut off this evening - roads are closed all around it - after heavy rain battered the region, causing slips and widespread flooding.

The sun was shining for most of the day but slip… Video, Audio

A state of local emergency is still in place for Tairāwhiti, after two days of torrential rainfall flooded large areas of the district.

Families again had to evacuate in the middle of the night.

… Audio

Evacuations have taken place in the middle of the night and Tolaga Bay Civil Defence expects some residents to remain cut off for four days or more, as a result of this week's flooding. A helicopter… Audio

The severe weather warning has now been lifted for the Gisborne district and the rain has eased, so the cleanup can begin.

Reporter Andrew McRae, who's driven west of Gisborne on State Highway 2 and… Audio

Wild weather is continuing in Tairāwhiti this morning, following a tense night for many in the sodden region.

Tolaga Bay area civil defence officer Greg Sheltford spoke to Corin Dann. Audio

Surf lifesavers are revving up their boat engines for another day of rescuing people stranded in floodwaters across Tairāwhiti. 

About a dozen people had to be plucked to safety yesterday.

Gisborne… Audio

It has been another big night in Gisborne, with further heavy rain after Wednesday's flooding. RNZ reporter Andrew McRae has been on the road south of Gisborne, and spoke to Corin Dann from the banks… Audio

On Wednesday we heard from John Logan, who had to scoop up his family in a tractor as flood waters rose rapidly into their house.

The whānau live in Makarika Valley in Ruatoria near the Mata river… Audio

Raging rivers across Tairāwhiti have prompted further evacuations overnight.

Civil Defence has issued a fresh flood warning for the Hikuwai River, which at midnight was at 12.2 metres and still… Audio

When a Waipiro Bay resident who uses a nebuliser to help them breathe had their power cut off by yesterday's violent storm, locals came to the rescue.

With roads across the Gisborne region swamped, a… Audio

Severe weather warnings are still in place for Gisborne and Hawke's Bay this morning.

Metservice warns rain is expected to cause dangerous river conditions and significant flooding. 

Communications… Audio

Raging rivers across Tairāwhiti have prompted further evacuations overnight.

Civil Defence has issued a fresh flood warning and Waka Kotahi is urging people to stay home and avoid using the roads.

… Audio

A nearly 200-kilometre stretch of road between Gisborne and Potaka remains closed this morning due to flooding and roads being washed out.

State Highway 35 is the main thoroughfare through the region… Audio

Further evacuations have been ordered in Gisborne district in the past couple of hours, as heavy rain continues to fall in already-soaked Tairāwhiti.

Houses in low-lying areas on Waingake Road, near… Audio

A state of emergency is still in place for the entire Gisborne region after torrential rain and flooding hit the area cutting power to hundreds and forcing people to evacuate their homes. It's still… Audio

As flooding strikes the East Cape, hundreds of people further north are grappling with soggy, smelly and expensive repair work in Auckland - and and an apparent shortage of commercial dehumidifiers.

… Audio