As emergency services respond to several reports of flooding, Waikato Police are urging against all but essential travel along the east coast of the Coromandel.
Officer in charge of Thames-Coromandel Road Policing, Sergeant Jim Corbett, said overnight heavy rain, which is still continuing, has resulted in several areas being flooded and a number of slips.
"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.
"The eastern coast of the peninsula appears to have been hit the hardest with the area having just reached high tide which has compounded the issue. 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 on http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions/highway-info."
Mr Corbett said for those drivers who still need to use Coromandel roads despite the warnings, extreme care needed to be taken, even after the rains have stopped.
"There will still be a lot of water on the roads and the key thing will be to take care and watch your speed."
Areas affected as at 0800 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
Cooks Beach- surface flooding
End