• The Waipaoa and Wairoa rivers surged past danger levels, several roads are closed due to flooding or slips and power has been shut off in Wairoa because rising water levels are putting substations at risk.

• SH35 Awapuni is now OPEN. SH38 Frasertown to Lake Waikaremoana will remain CLOSED overnight.

• SH2 Putorino to Wairoa is now OPEN. Ohinepeka to Wairoa is still experiencing surface flooding. Light vehicles will be escorted through with a pilot vehicle.

CLOSED

• SH38 Frasertown to Lake Waikaremoana - Slips

OPEN WITH RESTRICTIONS

• SH2 Ohinepeka to Wairoa - Light vehicles must be escorted by a pilot vehicle.

OPEN WITH CAUTION

• SH5 Eskdale to Waipunga - Surface flooding and slips

• SH35 Tikitiki to Te Araroa - Flooding

OPEN

• SH2 Te Karaka to Waipaoa

• SH2 Wairoa, between Nūhaka and Mōrere

• SH2 Putorino to Ohinepaka

• SH35 Okitu to Tolaga Bay

• SH35 Gisborne, at the Gladstone Road Bridge

• SH35 Awapuni near Stanley Rd

• SH51 Clive

• All other State Highways remain open.

 Fire and Emergency NZ crews and a specialist water rescue team have been onsite in Wairoa today assisting with the severe weather.

Further resources such as Urban Search and Rescue teams have also travelled from 

Palmerston North to Wairoa to assist with the East Coast storm response.

“Our thoughts go out to all people impacted by this event and we are thankful to our crews who have been extremely busy,” a Fenz spokesperson said.

SH2 south to Napier and SH38 remain closed, and there are also around 14 local road closures, Wairoa District Council says.

SH2 between Pūtōrino and Wairoa is now open, under convoy for all road users. Crews on-site will be piloting traffic from Mitchell Road to Kiwi Valley Road, due to surface flooding. 

This may mean there’s a delay for road users, while they wait for the pilot vehicles to begin the convoys. Please be patient while waiting.

Extreme care is needed on roads around Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti as strong wind and heavy rain continues.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says to please avoid all unnecessary travel on the state highway network.

Road closures as at 2.45pm:

• SH2 between Matawai and Ormond is now OPEN.
• SH2 Morere is now OPEN.
• SH2 between Pūtōrino and Wairoa is CLOSED.
  
• SH35 between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay is now OPEN. Please note, crews will be leaving flooding warning signs in place as a precaution, in the highest risk areas.
• SH35 at Gladstone Road bridge, Gisborne, remains CLOSED for debris clearing. Likely to reopen at 4pm. An update closer to the time will confirm this.
• SH35 Awapuni Road between the intersections of Lytton Road and Banks Street is CLOSED due to fallen trees.
• SH38 between Frasertown and Lake Waikaremoana is CLOSED.
• SH51 between Waitangi Bridge and Marine Parade, Napier, is now OPEN in both directions.

SH51 between Waitangi Bridge and Marine Parade, Napier, is now open in both directions.