A clean-up has begun in Gisborne after yesterday's flooding on silt-laden properties next to the Waimata and Taruheru rivers in the city. The rivers are dropping back to normal levels.
A family of four had to spend the night trapped in a car as rising floodwaters meant they were stuck "in the middle of nowhere" with no houses nearby.
Two adults and two young children were in their vehicle overnight on Tiniroto Rd in the Wairoa District. Plans to airlift them out yesterday were abandoned due to concerns about the safety of the rescue helicopter pilot.
Wairoa District Council emergency management officer Tim Allan said the family were now out and on their way.
"We were able to get to them this morning and advise them that it was safe for them to drive out under their own power. [It was] probably not the most comfortable night they've ever had."
Mr Allan said the district was saturated, with rain gauges in some areas recording between 100mm and 250mm.
"There'd be quite some damage I'd say to roading, farm infrastructure, fencing."
State Highway 2 and Gladstone Road Bridge are open today, but the city bridge would be closed for six hours from 6.30pm so contractors can remove "woody debris" in the mud below, the council said.
Gisborne Civil Defence emergency manager Louise Bennett said the number of people affected was still unknown.
Contractors opened SH2 near Te Karaka about 10.30 last night but a lot of sludge remained in drains and potholes had developed.
The New Zealand Transport Agency said SH2 between Opotiki and Gisborne was open today but drivers were advised to take "extra care" as flooding subsided in the area. The road from Gisborne to Tolaga Bay is open.
Gisborne Civil Defence controller Peter Higgs said authorities still had to clean up a few sewage spills and remove trees blown over in the wild weather.
More rain forecast
A slow moving low trough over the north of the country means it was possible there would be further rain in Hawkes Bay and Gisborne on Thursday and Friday, with possible heavy falls in the ranges, a MetService spokesman said.
Heavy rain is expected from tonight through to tomorrow night in the Wairarapa and Eastern Marlborough.
Meanwhile, strong winds along the Kapiti Coast and Marlborough Sounds are easing this morning, he said.
Aucklanders can expect scattered showers today, with a few heavy and thundery showers and small hail this afternoon and evening - particularly in eastern areas.
Snow dump at Ruapehu
On Mt Ruapehu, access roads to the ski fields are now open after blizzard conditions brought a huge dump of snow.
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts manager Simon Dickson said both the Whakapapa and Turoa fields would open this morning, and roads were open to four wheel drive vehicles and vehicles with chains.
A huge dump of snow brought of more than 30cm of fresh snow overnight.
Bay of Plenty was yesterday hit with strong winds, which caused a large branch to fall 30m and crash into the roof of a retirement village office in Ngongotaha.
