State Highway 25 on Coromandel Peninsula reopens after slips cleared

State Highway 25 on the Coromandel Peninsula has reopened after slips were cleared.

The road between Ruamahunga and Tapu was closed this morning due to two slips that fell overnight, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said.

In a 4.30pm update it said the highway had reopened after geotechnical investigations and clean-up work finished.

“Loose rocks and debris on the slip face meant it wasn’t safer to open a lane any earlier today.”

The agency earlier said large “basketball-sized rocks” were falling onto the Thames Coast Road in the early hours of this morning, and advised road users to delay driving.

The only detour available for most of the day was via Whitianga on the east coast of the peninsula.

The road is closed between Ruamahunga and Tapu in the Coromandel Peninsula due to two slips that fell overnight. Photo / NZTA

Meanwhile, a low-pressure system is steaming towards New Zealand from the Tasman Sea, bringing 100km/h winds and potential thunderstorms for western and northern parts of New Zealand today.

MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said that in the 24 hours since 9am yesterday, there was “broadly” 20 to 70mm of rain across the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty.

“With the passing band of rain yesterday, a station on the Pinnacles [in the Coromandel] got 82.5mm. Around 45mm for Whitianga.,” Ferris said.

Here’s a snapshot of today's squally thunderstorms and hail on the way ⛈ 🧊 💨

For the detailed thunderstorm outlook: https://t.co/BZWb806UfN

For your local forecast: https://t.co/Yjbq0jfCz1 pic.twitter.com/A5i24sie5n

— MetService (@MetService) May 28, 2025

“There’s another band of rain moving in later today but looks to clear away by Friday afternoon.

“After the rain, a westerly wind flow moves in over Coromandel and Bay of Plenty, this wind looks to hold pretty steady over the long weekend,” Ferris said.

“This is a favourable wind direction for generally dry weather across the long weekend so if you can put up with the wind, there should be good chance for outdoor excursions.”