Many households have self-evacuated in the Gisborne area, with flooding across the district

River levels are continuing to rise across the Tolaga Bay region as rain saturates already wet ground.

There are multiple slips on State Highway 35 and people are being told not to travel unless it's absolutely necessary.

Gisborne District Council spokesman Dave Wilson says the Hikuwai River is extremely high, and five houses at Mangatuna have been cut off, while three others have self evacuated.

Civil Defence has set up a base at Tolaga Bay Area School.