Roads closed and crews out in force in Coromandel dealing with damage from yesterday's storm

The New Zealand Transport Agency said only two road closures remain and crews are "out in force" clearing debris and preparing for more heavy rain in the Coromandel as foul weather continues to lash the region.

Road crews dealt with about 30 incidents on state highways in the area on Wednesday, ranging from major slips that brought down power lines to minor flooding.

NZTA regional performance manager Karen Boyt said workers were still trying to clear the damage from the storm.

"It's a big job and we'd like to thank the Coromandel people for being so patient while we work to get their roads cleared," Boyt said.

She asked that motorists watch their speed and drive carefully.

"We know that there is more heavy rain forecast to fall on the Coromandel for Friday and over the weekend so we will have our crews in a state of readiness should more slips and flooding occur."

State Highway 25 at Whangamata is closed because of a number of large slips. One lane is open for emergency access only because of safety concerns.

SH25 at Whiritoa is closed because of a number of large slips. NZTA estimates both roads will be open at 5pm.

A severe thunderstorm warning that was issued for Northland has now been lifted.

Flooding up the Rangihau

Posted by Thames-Coromandel District Council on Wednesday, 8 March 2017

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Hundreds of properties around the Coromandel have been left damaged after the heavy rain and flooding.

The Thames-Coromandel District Council has given the first indication of the widespread scale of damage to properties across the region. The worst affected are in the holiday hotspots of Whangamata, Onemana, Pauanui and Tairua.

Roads in the region are still closed by flooding and slips. Power is out in some areas and phone networks are down. At least eight homes in Whangamata and Onemana have been badly damaged by slips.

School and preschools in the worst-affected parts of the region have been closed.

Civil Defence controller Garry Towler said the worst damage was around debris left strewn on properties and subsidence and slips.

"Many of these properties are holiday homes so council staff are fielding calls from absentee homeowners asking us whether their holiday home has been affected and whether we can check it out," said Towler.

He said the council's first priority was to assess damage that urgently threatened public health and safety, particularly on public land like roads, reserves and beaches, as well as attending to people who are in need.

"In the first instance it is better for people to come and check out to their properties themselves over the coming weeks to see if there's any damage," he said.

If this was a problem homeowners were asked to contact the council customer service team next week to discuss carrying out an external assessment around damage, he said.

The region is expected to be lashed by more rain and gales in the next two days.

The rain also stopped play at the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter Service's golf tournament in Havelock North, which has been postponed from tomorrow until March 31.