UPDATE 4.45PM; State Highway 29 between Tauranga and Hamilton remains closed but NZTA hopes to open both lanes within an hour.

An alert issued at 4.45pm stated the highway remains closed to traffic in both directions due to a large slip.

It is expected the highway will open about 6pm, and another alert will be issued at 5.30pm with an update.

Te Puna Station Road was closed today due to flooding.

A slip at Te Matai Road has closed the road. Leeann Millington.

North/eastbound traffic shoudl follow detour onto SH28, to SH5 and back up SH36. Or reverse order if travelling south/westbound. -

If travelling from Auckland use SH2 through Paeroa.

NZTA is also warning of flooding on State Highway 24, east of Matamata heading towards the Kaimais.

The first bridge is experiencing flooding and warning signs and speed restrictions are in place. Drivers are advised to drive with care.

Earlier:

Te Ranga School will be open tomorrow after it and Oropi School closed for the day due to heavy rain cutting power and water supplies.

Earlier:

Surface flooding is expected to continue in the Western Bay today with predictions of 100mm to 200mm expected to fall in the region in the next 24 hours.

According to the Te Puke weather station, 8.7mm of rain has fallen so far this morning.

Senior Sergeant Rob Glencross asks drivers to take care and expect delays as a consequence of the current weather situation.

He says contractors are working to remove a large slip on SH29 and the road is expected to re-open late this afternoon.

In the meantime alternative routes available are SH2 north (Paeroa and Waihi), SH5 and SH36 (Ngongotaha and Pyes Pa), and SH33 and SH5 (Rotorua and Paengaroa).

"All these routes remain open but are experiencing heavy traffic volumes due to the SH29 closure.

"Drivers can expect delays due to the increased traffic volumes on these roads. The weather remains poor and in the aftermath of the last few days, there is debris and surface flooding in places."

NZ Transport Agency is advising motorists to drive with care, especially motorcyclists and those driving high-sided vehicles.

Drivers are advised to watch out for surface flooding, slips and rapidly rising rivers and streams, especially around high tide times.

Contractors are currently working to clear a slip on the lower Kaimai Range. This part of State Highway 29 remains closed to all traffic with detours in place onto SH28, to SH5 and back up SH36. Motorists travelling from Auckland should use SH2. One lane is expected to be open later today.

Fieldays traffic

Motorists heading to Fieldays are warned to expect delays at Matangi Village where traffic from Auckland is merging with vehicles heading to the event from Hamilton.

NZ Transport Agency apologises for any inconvenience.

Thursday road closures and changes

Kaimai Range – SH29 closed

The Kaimai Range is closed due to a large slip blocking both lanes of State Highway 29 on the Matamata side.

The road is expected to be closed for some time as contractors work to clear the slip.

Motorists are advised to use an alternative route.

Oropi/Pyes Pa - roads open

A slip covering one lane of Pyes Pa Road, north of Taumata Road, has now been cleared.

Maleme Street and Oropi and Cheyne Roads are all open this morning.

Roxanne Place is still under water but passable and the road is now open.

Te Matai Road - road closed

A large slip blocking Te Matai Road, about 6km from State Highway 2, has now been cleared.

The slip came down yesterday afternoon stopping school buses from Te Matai School from traveling past.

State Highway 36 - one lane

Remains down to one lane between Te Matai Road and Dudley Road after a large slip came down in April.

NZTA says the risk of another slip remains high and geotechnical engineers are working on option to stabilise the cliff face.

Te Puke - lowered speed limit

Drivers are urged to avoid travelling on SH2 west of Te Puke where the wet weather has caused significant deterioration to recent pavement rehabilitation.

NZTA reports the exact cause of the deterioration is being investigated and is currently unknown however the recent wild weather has exacerbated the problem.

Traffic speeds have been lowered to 50kmph to maximise driver safety while the issue is investigated and a solution can be found.

Te Puna Station Road - closed

Te Puna Station Road is closed and traffic is being directed down Clarke Road.

Coromandel

Several sections of State Highway 25 including parts of the road just north of Kopu and at the Thames to SH25 junction are closed due to slips.

The SH25 Hikuai to Tairua intersection is also closed due to flooding. Contractors have opened SH25 between Kopu and Thames after last night's flooding but will continue to monitor the situation this afternoon when heavy rainfall is expected.

Eastern Bay

A section of State Highway 30 near Kawerau will be closed until 6pm today to allow contractors to upgrade railway lines over the road.

Motorists will be detoured through Kawerau on State Highway 34. A detour via Onepu Springs Road will also be available.

School Closures

Oropi School

Oropi School is closed today due to a number of road closures affecting bus routes.

Principal Andrew King says the closure is also for health and safety reasons.

'The bus company cannot guarantee the safety of your children during pick up and drop off for children tomorrow due to the slips and road closures currently occurring on all roads to and from the school.

'It is also a safety risk to bring your own children to and from school by private motor vehicle based on the current situation.”

Andrew says there is no guarantee staff will be able to get to and from the school today as all staff need to drive some distance and make use of roads that are currently closed.

'On the school site, we need to check there are no health and safety hazards before children return to the school.

'If you receive no further notification from the school, we will plan to be back in full operation on Friday, June 13.”