Wairarapa residents on "tenterhooks" as more rain set to hit the region

More rain for South Wairarapa has weary residents on "tenterhooks", with the clean up from the last storm not yet over.

Wairarapa, including the Tararua Range, is under a heavy rain watch from 6am on Tuesday to midnight Wednesday.

Only days ago all Wairarapa communities south of the Tūranganui Bridge near Lake Ferry were cut off when it was washed out by flood waters.

It was the second time the Tūranganui River bridge had been washed out this year, with another storm in February also washing the bridge out.

Sharon Durrant, the coordinator for the emergency response team at Lake Ferry said the Tūranganui River was now operating, but south of the bridge was only accessible by four-wheel drive, and there were slips and debris about the place.

She said the area hadn't had enough time to dry out and roading crews were still tackling the issues from the last storm.

Durrant said people were stressed.

"We had people coming in [...] to get milk and bread saying, [we're] going to be isolated soon."

"Some of the families haven't even had a minute to really put their house back together."

She said people's lives were feeling the impact.

"There's guys on the fishing boats that don't live out at Cape Palliser - they haven't been able to get out here because of the road."

"We're all on tenterhooks out here."

Her message to locals as more rain hit the region was to be prepared and stock up on supplies.

"We need to ensure that we have at least a minimum of seven days worth."

Durrant said people could keep up to date with the latest updates on the Lake Ferry Facebook Page.

She also had a clear message for visitors.

"If anybody is thinking of coming out this way for the school holidays or to just have a look at the roads, please don't, do not come out," she said.

"You risk not being able to get home or you risk being stuck in the middle of nowhere in between two slips."