Authorities are working to restore connections across Hawke's Bay today.

The region is grappling with evacuations, widespread power outages, patchy cellphone coverage, numerous road closures and an ongoing water shortage.

State Highway 51 between Napier and Hastings has reopened overnight.

Emergency Management Group Controller Iain Maxwell told Mike Hosking a flight is on its way to Wairoa with technical communications equipment, and they'll also be sending flights into the rural hinterland.

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