Evacuations have taken place in the middle of the night in areas around Gisborne, as rivers peaked in persistent heavy rain.

Houses in low-lying areas on Waingake Road, near Manutuke were asked to evacuate about 2am as the Te Arai river reached its maximum level.

Residents of low-lying areas around the Waipaoa River were told to leave about 3am and go to the local Scout Hall.

Gisborne District Council says people in other areas need to be prepared to evacuate in the event of further river rises - and if in doubt, get out.

Tairāwhiti Civil Defence controller Dave Wilson is urging motorists to stay off the roads while the damage from surface flooding is assessed.

Several roads are closed or have cautions on them because of surface flooding and washouts, in both Tairāwhiti and neighbouring Hawke's Bay.

Gisborne mayor Rehette Stoltz says the situation is "not good" after consistent downpours, and teams have been working all night at the west of Gisborne where homes were evacuated.

"We are totally cut off and our biggest request is that people stay home," she told First Up.

Read more on the floods in Tairāwhiti yesterday:

• As it happened: deluge forces evacuations, traps epole in floodwaters

In Tairāwhiti, State Highway 35 is closed between Gisborne and Pōtaka, just north of Hicks Bay, and SH2 is closed between Matawai and Te Karaka. The northern approach to Frasertown on SH38 is also closed.

In Hawke's Bay, SH2 is closed from Napier to Wairoa due to flooding and slips.

Caution is advised on SH5 from Napier to Waipunga because of surface flooding, with slips possible in the heavy rain.

-RNZ.