Tairāwhiti locals are bracing for more slips and flooding as yet another weather system rolls in.
A state of emergency remains in place for the region as it still reels from the damage done by Cyclone Hale a week ago.
Despite the widespread damage and more bad weather coming, those living along State Highway 35 still have their sense of humour.
"Well, my lady did threaten to leave me if we didn't get the power back on soon. I have a feeling she was joking but it's been a bit rough," one person told Newshub.
"Weather patterns are changing a lot, so we're expecting more of this sort of thing each year. Really not much we can do about it."
The rough times seem to be getting more frequent on the coast, which resulted in damage to the area's infrastructure.
Many bridges have been damaged and inundated with debris, and cleanup crews have begun work. But with more rain on the way, that job may only get bigger.
Resident Manu Caddie said he and other locals are fearful for their future.
"People are worried that we aren't going to be able to live here in a few years. The road is regularly closed and that's going to get worse as the climate continues to provide more significant weather events more often," Caddie said.
He has started a petition to demand urgent action from the Gisborne District Council.
"One of the things we are asking for is Gisborne District Council to review the rules around land use in the region. They were written in the 90s and haven't been updated since. We think it's well overdue, particularly given the situation we find ourselves in now."
But Gisborne District Councillor Rob Telfer thinks the time is needed to make the right decision.
"This is early, everyone's a bit emotional about this thing, so I think we need to take a breath and have a really good look at it because what decisions we make now affect us in 25 years' time," Telfer said.
But Caddie said there's no time to waste.
"We'll be going to council next Thursday to present the petition and we'll have well over 5000 signatures by then and it will be difficult for them to ignore."
Another deluge on Wednesday may well make it impossible.
