Rangiuru Road south of Te Puke is closed after a tree fell over the road about 5pm.

A ute with two people on board struck the tree, says a police spokesperson.

The driver and a child, were unharmed but because powerlines had fallen over the vehicle, were trapped until the lines company turned off the power.

The crash occurred between Clark Road and Penderel Road. A cordon is in place at Te Matai Road and Rangiuru Road is expected to be closed for some time.

Fire and emergency NZ has taken a number of other calls in the Western Bay of Plenty since the weather set in after 5pm. Fire and Emergency NZ shift manager Paul Radden did not have time to talk about them all when contacted this evening.