Young children and a disabled man were among those rescued by helicopter after becoming trapped by rising floodwaters on State Highway 2 at the weekend.

Torrential rain drenched the Gisborne area, forcing the only bridge leading to Waipaoa Station to buckle — isolating more than 30 residents — and prompting fears the Uawa Bridge could do the same.

Mangatuna residents were evacuated twice and roads leading in and out of the region closed. More than 360mm of rain fell in some areas.

The 15 people trapped between rising flood waters were flown by the Lion Foundation Eastland Rescue Helicopter to safety at Rangatira Rugby Club at Te Karaka on Sunday.

Police called on the rescue helicopter at 3pm after becoming concerned for the safety of the travellers, particularly a disabled man in one of the vehicles, Senior Sergeant Rodger Gray said.

Ten cars were abandoned between Whatatutu and Dymocks Roads, west of the township, as rivers and surface flooding continued to rise.

This section of highway was closed but some tried to drive through the water anyway.

It was too deep.

By the time drivers turned to retreat, the floodwaters had come up behind them. They were stranded.

Police ferried them to friends and family for the night. Three people stayed at a motel.

Water also spilled across the highway near Otoko, forcing about 40 vehicles coming from Bay of Plenty to turn back. Many spent the night at Matawai.

The water pooled across 700 metres of road but subsided as fast as it appeared, Mr Gray said.

That section of road was closed for about an hour while the Whatatutu turnoff remained closed until yesterday.

Rain turned the Waipaoa River into a raging torrent that gushed over the Whatatutu bridge decking, tearing off part of its side rail and buckling its centre.

More than 30 residents at Waipaoa Station were cut off from the rest of the region.

Eleven-year-old Rayden Tihema said he had never seen weather like it before. He and his family spent hours cleaning up mud and silt that flooded their home.

Waipaoa Station School was meant to open for the first day of school today but will be closed due to the bridge damage.

Principal Julie Tumarae said the children were having an extra day to ensure the bridge was secure. It was re-opened yesterday at 3pm to light vehicles.

Engineers are expected to assess its safety today.

A crane was needed to remove the heavy build up of debris at the base of Uawa Bridge in Tolaga Bay. There were fears the bridge would be felled with the combination of debris and high tide.

More than 280mm of rain fell north of Tolaga Bay over 36 hours.

Mangatuna residents were evacuated twice.

They left low-lying homes at about 10am on Sunday but returned later that afternoon. Civil Defence Tolaga Bay co-ordinator Pop Milner later urged them to re-evacuate as a safety precaution when another low was expected to hit — bringing with it another pummelling of possibly 100mm.

“We are lucky we didn’t get that because we would have been in dire straights,” Mr Milner said.

Floodwater had already blocked off one couple from evacuating again.

Mr Milner said if the water rose much more, they would have needed rescuing. However, the rain subsided quickly.

“When the tide went out, everything dropped,” he said.

“I guess it just shows how dry the country is.”

The weekend rain was the heaviest to fall in the Gisborne region for at least six months.