Travellers are being urged to avoid the east coast of the Coromandel as heavy rain has brought flooding to many coastal communities, police say.
Overnight heavy rain, which was still continuing, had resulted in several areas being flooded and a number of slips, officer in charge of Thames-Coromandel road policingSergeant Jim Corbett said.
Some campgrounds have been evacuated.
"Flooding has been reported in Tairua, Pauanui and Matarangi, Whitianga and a number of other locations with camping grounds at Opoutere and Cooks Beach flooded.
"The community hall at Cooks Beach has been opened to accommodate evacuated campers."
Image 1 of 13: Flooding in Pauanui. Photo / Twitter / @FirecommNZ
The eastern coast of the peninsula appeared to have been hit the hardest with the area having just reached high tide, which had compounded the issue, Mr Corbett said.
"Our advice to people intending travelling to the area is not to, at least for the next three hours and to monitor the NZTA Highway Information website."
