UPDATE: Read the updating road event article here.

Police and emergency services are being inundated with calls for help in the Western Bay of Plenty because of flooding and slips.

Police are asking drivers to either delay travel, or to drive to the conditions.

Slips have caused this pipe to leave its fittings and sprawl across State Highway 2, north of Whakamarama. Photo by SunLive reader Kerri Wheeler - emailed to SunLive at: [email protected]

State Highway 2 is closed at Whakamarama northbound because of slips between there and the Omokoroa turnoff.

Traffic is being diverted at the Whakamarama shops. South of the city, Belk Road near Omanawa is closed by a slip.

There are also reports of surface flooding on SH25 near Whitianga, which is threatening to close the highway. This is on SH25 between Wade Road and the 309 road. Police advise the road is passable but extreme caution is required.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council communications advisor Peter Hennessey says road crews are working on slips on Rocky Cutting Road, Omanawa and Belk Roads.

There are trees down on Ohauiti Road, Minden Road and Old Coach Road.

They are aiming to have the roads cleared by mid morning.