Police are advising drivers to stay off the roads today unless their journeys are required.

'If they don't need to drive today, my recommendation is to avoid it until the weather improves,” says Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion.

'But those who are driving take extreme care, slow down and respect following distances.”

There is some minor surface flooding on Papamoa Beach Road this morning, but most of the road across the region have only some surface flooding at this stage.

'With those high winds drivers need to take extreme car in exposed places like the TEL, SH29 up to the summit,” says Ian.

The lower speed limits on SH29 are activated, 80km/h on the Tauranga side and 60km/h on the Matamata side.

Due to the heavy rain and ongoing bad weather, Waikato Police are urging people to avoid any unnecessary travel around the Coromandel Peninsula today.

Senior Sergeant Dean Anderson from Waikato District Command Centre says several main roads are already water-logged or flooded and the area is effectively cut off.

'More rain is forecast for the rest of the day and high tide is still to come."

He says the situation is just going to get worse.

'Anyone who doesn't need to travel is asked to stay away. We're getting reports of people driving to see the flooding and getting caught out.

"It's not worth the risk. If you do need to travel, please be careful.

"Check your route before you head out, drive to the conditions and allow extra time for your journeys.”