The situation looks to be improving, with MetService meteorologist Alanna Burrows saying the worst of the rain was over.
“There is an easing trend which will continue through the morning, turning to lighter showers this afternoon.
“There will be a few showers Saturday and then on Sunday we see an increase in fine spells.”
Wairoa received 66.6mm of rain in the past 48 hours, with larger accumulations reaching 150mm to 240mm across the wider Hawke’s Bay.
A heavy rain warning is in place until 10am.
Wairoa mayor Craig Little said the council made the right call triggering a local state of emergency.
“Once you start having people’s lives in danger as well as properties and emergency services under a little bit of pressure, you’ve got to make that call.
“The main street didn’t flood, that’s a godsend … some [streets] dodged a bullet big time.”
On June 26, 2024, the Wairoa River burst its banks and tore through more than 400 properties, causing $40 million worth of damage.
Wairoa District Council and locals at the time criticised Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for not opening the Wairoa River mouth earlier, before the deluge hit.
Little said the local state of emergency would remain until further assessments were completed.
About 40 evacuees from low-lying areas were housed at Wairoa Memorial Hall overnight, with local support groups and marae pitching in to help with bedding.
According to council, the owners of Wairoa New World arrived at the hall at 4am with “generous” donations of breakfast.
One poster commented: “As one of the whanaus affected by the flood thanks yous all for taking us in me and my whanau absolutely appreciate all the mahi you all do giving us somewhere safe and dry to be”.
Another thanked the emergency operations centre for working “through the day and night”.
Taihoa Marae was used as a secondary evacuation centre but has since closed.
Wairoa Emergency Operations Centre and the Wairoa District Council thanked its local support groups, volunteer fire brigade, marae and roading contractors for rallying together to help the community stay safe.