As the amount of heavy rain affecting the Coromandel Peninsula appears to be reducing, Waikato Police are urging motorists to remain cautious and expect delays due to dozens of slips and floods.
Officer in charge of Thames-Coromandel Road Policing, Sergeant Jim Corbett, said while local council, traffic management and volunteer fire fighting crews had done sterling work in numerous areas affected by flooding and slips, several more areas were in need of attention.
"And it will take some time to rectify all the issues.
"Right now the main areas affected appear to be north of Tairua on SH25 heading towards Whitianga where flooding has closed the north bound lane while a slip is causing delays to both lanes on the same highway at Pumpkin Hill."
Other parts of SH25 affected by flooding are around Whitianga, particularly near the intersection with Wade Rd, Golf Rd and stretches of the Te Rerenga Kuaotuna Rd.
Parts of Pauanui are also flooded.
Earlier in the morning campers at a Cooks Beach camping ground were evacuated to a local community hall while campers at an Opoutere camping ground near Whangamata were given the option of a voluntary relocation to the local primary school after consultation with camp managers, the Rural Fire Service and Police.
"The eastern side of the peninsula appears to have been hit the hardest and with the next high tide due at 4.38pm there is concern that water level may rise again and we're urging people intending travelling to the area to delay their trip if possible.
"Travellers are advised to continue to monitor weather forecasts and the NZTA Highway Information website on http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions/highway-info."
Areas affected as at 11:00 include but are not isolated to:
SH25 Kuaotunu-Wharekaho Rd on the Whitianga side of Kuaotunu Hill
SH25 Whangapoua Hill
Tairua- surface flooding various locations
Whangamata- surface flooding various locations
Pauanui- surface flooding various locations
SH25 Matarangi, surface flooding between Matarangi and Coromandel
Opoutere- surface flooding
SH25 Tairua-Whitianga road near the intersection with Paul Rd, culvert washed out
Cooks Beach- surface flooding
SH25 Pumpkin Hill
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