Large slip closes SH35 on East Coast

A large slip has closed State Highway 35 between Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast, following heavy rain on the weekend which caused some residents to be evacuated.

The slip occurred on a section of the highway at Busby's Hill, just south of Tokomaru Bay, the New Zealand Transport Agency said.

A geo-technical engineer was at the site checking the stability of the earth.

Road blocks were in place at the intersection of SH35 and Paeroa Road and south of the Tokomaru Bay township.

Alternative routes to Ruatoria and Tokomaru Bay were via Opotiki and around the East Cape, NZTA said.

Dozens of residents north of Gisborne were evacuated last night after rivers threatened to overflow their banks, but had since been allowed home

This morning, the region's Civil Defence head John Davies said homes and most roads had been spared damage from flooding overnight.

"It continued to rain, but like yesterday the rain was a lot lighter than expected and the weather forecast has downgraded the amount of rain that we were going to be receiving," he told Radio New Zealand.

"We're finding all the rivers are dropping down on their levels and everything's looking a lot healthier and it looks like people will be able to go about their normal business."

- NZPA