'Evacuate now. Evacuate to higher ground or inland,' emergency alert says.
Wairoa District Council says floodwaters in the Hawke's Bay town are beginning to recede.
The Kowhai river breached its banks at 10.26am.
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Wairoa District Council is telling residents to be ready to leave at a moment's notice.
Wairoa residents received an emergency alert on Thursday night as floodwaters began to rise in low-lying areas.
Mayor Craig Little said the council was right to trigger a local state of emergency.
Dozens of residents in the town of Wairoa have been evacuated overnight after the river burst its banks.
