UPDATED 2.55pm Residents in some flood stricken Bay of Plenty towns have been briefly visiting their homes.

1600 of Edgecumbe's residents remain stranded from their homes after the Rangitaiki River breached a floodwall on Thursday.

However, authorities have today been allowing residents whose houses are in "dry zones" no longer inundated by water to grab essential items and check their properties for the first time.

The brief visits, under escort, are leaving from evacuation centres in nearby towns.

Some Awakeri residents were allowed back in this morning, Kawerau residents were allowed in earlier this afternoon, while Whakatane evacuees are gathering belongings from 2pm to 4pm.

Earlier today, many Edgecumbe residents were fuming as they waited to register for this precious time to access their flood-stricken properties.

Hundreds of people were stuck in a slow-moving queue at Awakeri School as they tried to meet the midday deadline for registration.

Among the most frustrated were residents whose homes are completely unaffected by floodwaters and who have been ordered to evacuate anyway.

Edgecumbe resident Paul Mills said he felt "a very deep-seated anger" at having to stay with relatives in Tauranga since Thursday despite his home being unaffected by the flooding.

He felt as if he was in "an information black hole" amid what he considered to be poor communication from council staff.

John Davis, whose Tauriki Pl home was also unaffected, said the 40 metre queue had barely moved 10m in an hour and a half.

He complained that people at the back of the queue couldn't hear instructions and updates being voiced over a loud speaker.

"This joker who's up here talking, we can't hear a word he's saying."

He was anxious about being able to register before the midday deadline and, like Mr Mills, was frustrated at being forced to evacuate a dry home.

Jonnie Joseph, whose home was also unaffected, said he believed information about the floodwater levels was wrong and the registration process too slow.

"It's been backing up since early, mate," he said.

"It's a local government shambles again."

Council staff set up a second desk to help speed up the queue and Salvation Army workers also helped out. The last of the residents made it through right on midday.

Police Eastern Bay Area Commander Kevin Taylor said a cordon was in place to protect public health and the security of homes.

Whakatane mayor Tony Bonne said contractors were working around the clock and he hoped everyone would have access to homes by Easter.

Some residents of the flood-ravaged district vented their frustration at a public meeting last night. Many were visibly angry, jeering at council officials. A number of them left early in frustration.

Some of them argued that they shouldn't have to pay rates if they aren't going to live in their homes for the next two weeks.

Others called for an independent review into the breach of the stop bank, which the government is considering.

The town remains on high alert for more rain. MetService meteorologist Peter Little said the next few days would be mostly settled with a few showers. But heavy rain fuelled by moist subtropical air was set to move over the country late on Wednesday and could stick around to Friday.

Little said Thursday would cop the wettest weather and northeastern areas - from the Bay of Plenty to Northland - would see the worst of it.

The Whakatane Emergency Response Team, with support from the SPCA, has been working together to search for animals in Edgecumbe. Residents in need of animal welfare support should call 0800 306 0500.

A Give a Little page has been set up for the Edgecumbe & Eastern Bay of Plenty (EBOP) Mayoral Flood Appeal.