The Hawke's Bay Regional Council is defending not opening up the Wairoa river bar earlier.

Last week's downpour damaged more than 100 properties in the district, where a state of emergency lifted this morning.

The Government has launched a quickfire review, including assessing locals' claims the river should've been cleared sooner.

Council Chief Executive Dr Nic Peet says calls were made on information in front of them at the time.

"You need some really specific conditions to open a bar, so you need a really decent flow in the river to shift probably 50,000 cubic metres of rock and shingles."

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