UPDATE: An estimated 30 whānau from the Uawa, or Tolaga Bay area have spent the night away from home, staying with relatives on higher ground as Cyclone Hale set floodwaters lapping at their doors.

The Hikuwai River reached 13.4 metres about 3am on Wednesday morning.

Tairāwhiti Civil Defence Emergency Management declared a state of local emergency at 10pm on Tuesday.

Uawa Civil Defence group member Shanan Gray says the swollen waterways have caused surface flooding across roads and right up to people's sections.

Gray says about 30 households in the Tolaga Bay area left their homes for the night, heading to higher ground.

"Some whānau have chosen to evacuate, so that just shows that some people know that the water can definitely go into their houses which we are well aware that some houses have been affected by this."

One motorist has had to be rescued overnight, he says.

"This person didn't get the memo that the roads were closed and we only had to pull one person out of the Rototahi Road and they are safe and they chose just to stay put, just out by Rototahi because their car was a little bit damaged from the water."

State Highway 35 is closed from Ōkitū to Waipiro Bay.

The Waiotu Stream last night breached its bank and flooded the highway at Tokomaru Bay.

Tairāwhiti Civil Defence controller Nedine Thatcher Swann says everyone should stay off the roads and take this weather event seriously.

"We want to ensure our community is aware we have more rain to come and rivers are still rising.

"We have surface flooding across the region and ask everyone to please respect any road barriers that are up."

Around 20 local roads are closed in the Tairāwhiti region and contractors would start work to restore access first thing in the morning.

The sewer network is overwhelmed and emergency valves are open in several locations into the city's rivers to avoid overflows on private property, says Thatcher Swann.

About 387 Matawai residents were without power overnight as it was too dangerous for crews to check on site, she says.

Meanwhile, in Northland, officials are warning the recovery from Cyclone Hale could take weeks.

Although the weather moved south towards Gisborne and Hawke's Bay yesterday evening, the Northland Regional Council said river levels would take time to recede.

The ground remains saturated, creating a risk of slips and falling trees.

The council advised travellers, especially in the Whangārei area, to take extreme caution and defer any journeys that were not essential, especially while it was still dark.

Motorists should drive with caution, as flooded roads may have damage or debris under the water, it says.

MetService heavy rain warnings for Coromandel Peninsula, Gisborne are no longer in force, but a heavy rain warning remains in place for Hawke's Bay until 10am on Wednesday.

-RNZ.

EARLIER:

Flooding along Grahamtown Road in Whangārei this morning. Photo: RNZ / Sam Olley.

A state of local emergency is in force as severe weather slams into Tairāwhiti, Gisborne.

MetService has heavy rain warnings for Hawke's Bay, the Tararuas and the Eastern hills of Wairarapa for today, as Cyclone Hale passes over the country.

It warns up to 140mm of rain is possible

Thunderstorms with heavy falls are possible inland during the afternoon and evening in Hawke's Bay.

MetService says Gisborne, Coromandel and parts of Northland have had 'exceptional falls” on Tuesday, and the storm is not done with concerns shifting to rising rivers on the East Coast.

This morning, Northland and Auckland will see low cloud and showers, says the MetService.

It'll also be a wet day in the Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Taupo and Gisborne, with possible thunderstorms in southern Bay of Plenty and Gisborne from afternoon.

Thames-Coromandel District Council is asking Coromandel Town residents to conserve water for about the next 48 hours.

'The very heavy rain we have had over the past few days, and set to continue, has meant that the stream we draw water from is carrying a heavy sediment load,” says a post on the council's Facebook page.

'This means the water treatment plant must process at a much slower rate due to the additional sediment in the water, or even be shut off at times.

'As a result, our treated water storage is lower than normal, which looks set to be the case until the water source becomes cleaner.

'Please be mindful of your water use at this time.”

According to NZTA, there are currently three highway closures.

SH25 is closed between Te Puru and Tapu due to a slip. People are advised to avoid this route.

Due to a slip on SH25A the road is blocked between Hikuai and Kopu.

'Contractors are on scene,” says the roading agency.

'Follow directions of emergency services. Consider delaying your journey.”

Due to flooding, SH25 is closed from Hikuai Settlement Rd to Tairua Township.

'Avoid the area or delay your journey if possible.”

A heavy rain warning remains in place for the Coromandel.