Floodwaters wreak havoc in Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty

A car and road is swamped by floodwaters in Stevenson Drive, Papamoa. Photo/Jenna Preest

Western Bay of Plenty residents have woken to road closures, flooded homes and overwhelmed housing developments after a monster storm overnight.

Rainfall levels in the Bay of Plenty reached up to 145mm in Tauranga over a 24-hour period.

A downpour of 53mm was recorded between 4pm and 5pm, while the Coromandel Ranges received 121mm and Waiheke Island 80mm within 24 hours.

in Papamoa East, floodwaters have swamped a new housing development. In Stevenson Drive, floodwaters crept close to newly built houses plus some still under construction.

Read more: Bay of Plenty holiday park residents trapped by raging floodwaters
Road closures in Katikati and slip in Karangahake Gorge
It is understood water also needed to be pumped out from Parton Rd, Papamoa.

A car and road is swamped by floodwaters in Stevenson Drive, Papamoa, where houses are still being built. Photo/Jenna Preest

Homes and businesses in Waihi Beach and Katikati have also flooded.

A Western Bay of Plenty District Council spokeswoman said it received about 45 calls to its call centre including reports of flooding, slips and trees down in several streets in Waihi Beach, Omokoroa, Te Puke and Maketu.

State Highway 2 was closed last night due to rising floodwaters at Katikati but has since been reopened. The highway was also down to one lane after a slip in Karangahake Gorge.

A slip in the Karangahake Gorge. Photo/Amber Flemming

Steele Lane at Athenree was also closed and motorists are advised of significant delays. Upland Rd at Aongatete was closed after a bridge was hit by debris and Chelmsford Rd at Kauri Pt was down to one lane due to a slip.

Tauranga City Council is yet to confirm any flooding damage to the city, or what, if any evacuations took place.