Motorists urged to delay travel as Cyclone Cook damage assessed

Road closures across the Bay of Plenty

New Zealand Transport Agency is urging motorists to continue delaying their travel, even if they have woken up to sunshine.

Multiple roads across the Bay of Plenty remain closed due to slips, and fallen trees.

NZTA is advising motorists to be prepared for delays with slips still being cleared, trees down and roads operating on one lane.

Rotorua Lakes Council said road inspection teams would be out today checking road damage.

"There were no major weather-related incidents overnight in the Rotorua district but there is still a high risk of slips and tree falls, so please continue to take care if out driving, particularly on rural roads," it said in an announcement this morning.

Temporary traffic lights are in place near a slip on Paradise Valley Road where single lane traffic is allowed.

Fallen trees on Tarawera, Dansey, Hamurana and Whirinaki Valley Rds have been cleared to allow traffic to flow.

Civil Defence's Emergency Operations Centre (ECO), said power outages had created serious issues to water and waste water systems across the district.

Generators are being placed at key pump stations, but capacity is low.

Power remains out across areas of the Bay of Plenty, but Unison relationship manager Danny Gough said the network in Taupo and Rotorua had held up well at this stage.

Power has been restored to 355 homes at Rotoma.

Those who are still without power are being advised to conserve water.

Boil water notices still apply to the Rangitaiki Plains, Ruatoki, Te Mahoe and Taneatua.

Te Teko is still without water and a tanker supply is being made available.

Rainfall was unexpectedly light with ECO reporting there had been no problems with stormwater systems and river flows.

The evacuation notices for the Awatarariki area and campgrounds from Matata west have also been lifted.

Bay of Plenty road closures
SH29 closed between SH28 and Lower Kaimais
SH2 closed along Matata to Pikowai
SH2 closed through Edgecumbe.
SH2 is also closed south of Awakeri, through the Waimana Gorge
SH34 Edgecumbe to Te Teko

Areas still without power
Whakatane
Ohope
Coastlands
Otakiri
Tāneatua
Ruatoki
Waimana
Matata
Thornton
Galatea
Murupara
Minginui
Ruatahuna
Waiotahe
Opotiki through to Cape Runaway.