Weather warnings have been lifted for Tairāwhiti while Northland says its recovery will take several weeks.

Tairāwhiti Civil Defence says all the weather warnings have been lifted for the district, although some scattered rain and strong winds can still be expected and the state of emergency remains in place.

There has been widespread flooding, power remains out to hundreds of properties and roads remain closed after Cyclone Hale passed through the region.

Tairāwhiti Civil Defence is asking people to avoid any unnecessary travel in the region and if they must travel to be on alert for flooding, slips, dropouts and fallen trees.

The region’s rivers are still at high levels and continue to be monitored after Hikuwai River peaked at 13.5 metres last night.

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 on Tuesday night, the Northland Regional Council said river levels would take time to recede.

In Coromandel the historic Mercury Bay Boating Club in Whitianga may have been saved thanks to the efforts of the local community to protect the building from erosion.

Cyclone Hale brought fierce tides to the Coromandel and saw three metres of bank at Mercury Bay scoured away.

Club commodore Jonathan Kline said courtesy of a team of local volunteers, the building will survive.

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