Pupils at Oropi School are being sent home this afternoon as floodwaters threaten Waimapu Bridge.

Principal Andrew King says parents are being asked to pick up children before Oropi Road is inaccessible.

'We have a bus service that goes to John's Produce, which we've had to cancel because water is up to the road level on near Waimpau Bridge, so it will be in flood this afternoon.

'We've also cancelled our Ohauiti run, because there are too many slips and surface flooding along that route. So that's two of our three runs cancelled. Most children are on their way home now, although the school is still open because not all parents can pick their children up yet.”

Although the school itself is on a hill, access to it may be affected tomorrow if the bad weather continues.

'We can let parents know via text message whether the school will be shut tomorrow. I'll make that call at about 7am.”

Elsewhere, the Mount base track has been closed due to storm damage, while State Highway 30 between Rotorua and Whakatane is also closed.

There are also reports coming in of several homes in rural Welcome Bay being threatened by flood waters.

SunLive is working on getting more information about this.

More than 200mm of rain has been recorded in the Western Bay of Plenty. Photo: Helen Hunkin.