Surface flooding on State Highway 1

Wet weather has caused some surface flooding on State Highway 1 in Northland near Pakaraka.

Police were urging motorists to take car as about 10cm of water was covering a one-kilometre stretch of road south of Pakaraka about 9.30am today. Vehicles were backing up as they negotiated the road. Police say the water level was rising.

The council were also in the process of putting up signage around Moerewa which was also starting to flood.

UPDATE 10.50am:

Volunteer firefighters from Kawakawa have unblocked a drain on SHI near Pakaraka. Heavy rain plus the blocked drain saw flash flooding across the State Highway south of Pakaraka.

The crew was then unblocking a drain about half way down Turntable Hill at Moerewa

The latest reports are the Otiria Stream, that runs at the bottom of Turntable Hill, is about a metre below the bridge.

Police and fire crews were also headed to a stretch of road near Towai, SH1, where there was also surface flooding.