Severe weather that battered the Thames-Coromandel region this week has damaged major roads, some of which remain closed.
Follow 1News’ live updates on today’s weather here
Photos captured by NZTA show fallen trees, swollen waterways and roads damaged by slips following intense rain in the region.
Parts of the East Coast remain inaccessible due to road closures, with NZTA Waikato System Manager Andy Oakley saying many restrictions would remain in place heading into the long weekend.
“Heavy rain has caused multiple slips, debris flows and pavement damage across the network. Crews have been clearing slips, removing fallen trees and assessing damage wherever it is safe to do so,” he said
“While some areas have been reopened relatively quickly, several significant slips are still moving and will take days to fully clear. Work can only continue when it is safe for crews to be onsite.”
Oakley said dozens of smaller slips were being managed, as well as two major unstable areas on SH25 at Kūaotunu and between Whiritoa and Whangamatā.
“These two slips are large and unstable. Safety for road users and our crews is our priority, which means work will pause at times until assessments confirm the slopes have settled.”
This morning, New World Whangamatā shared a photo of its empty bread shelves, saying it was “currently cut off from the outside world”. Its bakers were hard at work making fresh product, while two trucks were to bring emergency supplies as part of a convoy.
“To everyone on the ground, behind the scenes, and across our community: thank you. Your patience, teamwork, humor, and resilience make all the difference.”
Powerco said crews have made “good progress overnight” repairing and restoring power to customers in Coromandel Peninsula, as well as western Bay of Plenty and eastern and southern Waikato.
“As at 9.30am today, around 1500 customers remain without power, down from 5700 at 4pm yesterday,” it said.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon arrived in the Thames-Coromandel region Friday morning, urging residents to “stay alert and look for warning signs”.
“Even though the heavy rain has passed, the large amount of rainfall leaves many parts of the region particularly vulnerable to landslides and fallen trees,” Luxon said in a post shared to X.
“If you see any of these, act quickly, get away from the slope and call 111.”
Heavy thunderstorms damaged properties and caused evacuations across the wider Bay of Plenty region. In Pāpamoa, two people were confirmed to have died after a slip damaged a house.
In Mount Maunganui, a major landslide at a campground has left six people unaccounted for, including two teenagers.
Update on Coromandel state highway network
The following sections of State Highway are still CLOSED:
SH 25 Kūaotunu to Kūaotunu West/Matarangi
SH 25 Whangamatā to Whiritoa
OPEN with caution (traffic management in place)
SH25 Coromandel town to Matarangi /Kūaotunu West
SH 2 Paeroa to Waihi (Karangahake Gorge)
CLOSED but scheduled to OPEN from 7pm tonight:
SH25 Hikuai to Whangamatā
“Priorities for our contractors today are regaining access in and out of Whangamatā via SH25 to Hikuai, and re-opening the SH2 Karangahake Gorge between Paeroa and Waihi. These are expected to open by 7pm tonight. Another update will be provided later today,” NZTA said.