Flooding has closed roads in Eastern Bay of Plenty, with “significant disruption” expected for people trying to get home.
Whakatāne District Council has activated its Emergency Operations Centre as both roads between Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki remain closed.
“There is no confirmed timeframe for reopening either route. Conditions remain changeable, and river levels are still rising,” a 3.30pm update said.
“Significant disruption” was expected for people trying to get home from work and school, with people encouraged to consider staying with friends or family.
Wainui Rd was underwater, with surface flooding more than 200mm deep.
“If you do not live in Ōhope, please avoid travel over the Ōhope Hill. Traffic is backing up due to the road closure on Wainui Rd.”
State Highway 2 between Tāneatua and Paerata Ridge Rd was also closed due to flooding.
A video sent to the Rotorua Daily Post showed a vehicle being pulled out of floodwaters on Reid Rd near Ruatoki, and Tāneatua School was closed due to the flooding.
Highways earlier closed around Rotorua have reopened after being closed by slips this morning.
Delays were still expected on State Highway 33 between Tikitere and Paengaroa as the slips continued to be cleared.
SH30 between Tikitere and Rotoma had also reopened under stop/go traffic management.
Tauranga City Council said access to Te Ara Tūtanga (Mauao base track) was closed this morning due to high swells and the high incoming tide.
“The decision has been made for public safety, following recent wet weather and big waves yesterday,” a statement from the council said.
The track was closed at 11am and would reopen in two or three hours, after high tide.
Warning signs were in place and, once the track had been reassessed and no problems found, it would be reopened.
A severe thunderstorm watch and orange heavy rain warning has been lifted.
NZTA advised people to take extra care and check the latest conditions before travelling.
The NZTA spokesperson earlier said contractors were on site clearing slip material at the SH30 and SH33 locations.
“People driving in the region are urged to slow down, increase following distances and drive to the conditions.”
The agency advised watching for surface flooding, slips and debris, and to avoid driving through floodwaters.
Rotoiti resident Talia Wahapango said a slip was blocking both lanes on SH30 at Ruato Bay when she tried to travel to Rotorua at 4.30am to go to the gym.
“I tried going to work at 7am and got turned around again. Sometimes Mother Nature schedules a day off for you.”
SH30 TIKITERE TO ROTOMA - SLIPS - 7:45AM
— NZ Transport Agency - Waikato & Bay of Plenty (@nztawbop) July 29, 2025
Due to multiple slips the road is CLOSED between Tiketere and SH34. No detour is available. Avoid the area or delay your journey. ^EH pic.twitter.com/hYPnDnK4bR
Rotokawa School principal Regan Williams said he and two other key staff members weren’t able to get to school today due to the slips.
He said he was turned around at Okere Falls due to a slip, as was another teacher who lived in Te Puke.
The school’s office administrator, who is from Rotoiti, was also unable to get through due to the slip near Ruato Bay.
“There are lots of kids absent from school today too,” Williams said.
However, Whangamarino School staff and pupils managed to get through before the roads were closed completely, a staff member said.
So far the weather hadn’t impacted flights departing and arriving at Rotorua Airport.
A power outage affected 653 properties at Pongakawa this morning, with a site investigation under way.
In Tauranga, Wairoa River Rd, which runs under the Wairoa Bridge outside Bethlehem, was covered with floodwater. Drivers were able to cautiously make their way through the water.
A Tauranga City Council spokesman said no weather-related issues had been reported to the council this morning.
Heavy rain and strong winds lashed the region overnight, with 152mm recorded in the 24 hours up to 7am in Rotorua, MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said.
Tauranga received 72mm and Whakatāne 75mm in the same period.
“A few other stations recorded around 150mm, at Rotoehu, Waimana, Kawerau,” Bakker said.
In the Coromandel, Whitianga received 97mm while stations in the ranges recorded 160 to 170mm.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch 🌩🟡
— MetService (@MetService) July 29, 2025
Area: Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Gisborne
Period: 2hrs 30min from 7:30am - 10am Wed, 30 Jul
Rain with heavy falls is expected to affect the Bay of Plenty and the far north of Gisborne during Wednesday morning, and there is a moderate risk of… pic.twitter.com/tkiV2AyHS4
“So we’ve still got Coromandel and Bay of Plenty being affected by this heavy rain, but it is all moving through this morning.”
A Bay of Plenty Regional Council spokesman said the Kaituna and Parati Rivers had reached “second warning” level this morning.
The Whakatāne River had reached “first warning” level.
The council advised that stock on low-lying land alongside the Rangitāiki River, and particularly in areas upstream from Te Teko, be moved to higher ground.
The warning did not apply to areas protected by stopbanks and the regional council stressed there was no risk of flooding in Edgecumbe or the Rangitāiki Plains.
Current river inflows into the Matahina Dam exceed generation capacity and Manawa Energy advised water would be spilled from the dam.
The increased river flow meant floodwater could cover land immediately beside the Rangitāiki River.
Rotorua Lakes Council contractors were busy overnight dealing with surface flooding, treefalls and slips.
Reports received and attended to by contractor crews to date:
The Whakatāne District Council is urging motorists to stay off the roads or be very careful.
Many roads are closed due to flooding, slips and trees crashing down. The council said it was expecting Wainui Rd and Rewatu Rd to flood and would likely close.
It says it also expects the Waimana Gorge to close.
“We urge you to stay off the roads if at all possible. If you absolutely have to be on the roads, drive like you’ve got a space saver on, or your nan’s in the car,” the council said.
It also said a “huge amount” of rain had fallen overnight.
Whakatāne road updates: