Updated 25 06 09 - 3pm

State Highway 5 near Tirau remained closed following a fatal accident near the Te Papa Road intersection on Thursday.
The road through the Mamaku Range was to be closed until further notice.

Tauranga police say drivers must take care using roads in elevated rural areas such as State Highway 29 over the Kaimai Ranges and State Highway 36 over Pyes Pa Road.
Police also warn ice is likely on Te Matai Road and upper Oropi Road. It is expected other roads at higher levels will also be heavily iced.
There was an accident on Thursday at Taumata Road where a woman broke her leg, and a car slid off Rocky Cutting Road in Welcome Bay this morning.

Police have received a number of reports overnight of icy conditions in the upper Kaimai's, on the Tauranga Direct Road through to Rotorua (via Pyes PaWhile all roads are currently open, Police expect the conditions to continue to worsen and ask that drivers using any of these roads be very careful.

Original Story 25 06 09 - 8am

A fatal vehicle accident today has closed State Highway 5 near the Te Papa Road intersection.

The accident happened about 6am. Police are at the scene. No further details are available yet.