More slips likely in Rotorua as saturated ground struggles to soak up any more rain

A slip on State Highway 30 near Lake Rotoiti. Photo/Alice Guy

More slips and fallen trees are expected over the next few days because of Rotorua's saturated ground conditions, and more rain is forecast for next week.

Rotorua Lakes Council crews are continuing the clean-up following this week's deluge with several roads likely to remain closed overnight.

Meanwhile lake levels are expected to take several weeks to stabilise and a no-wake zone has been established in Okawa Bay on Lake Rotoiti to prevent damage to lakefront properties.

Some roads around the district have reopened but many will remain closed overnight. Okareka Loop Rd and Loop Rd were now open but would need further cleanup once all roads had reopened.

Tonight Waikite Valley Rd would open to one lane. However, Hamurana Rd, Lake Okataina Rd, Manawahe Rd and Longview Rd would be closed overnight.

The council said the message for drivers was still to travel with extreme care while out and about.

Many of the slip sites that had been cleared to allow traffic through have mud and silt on the surface making it slippery and it was important that people drove slowly through the areas.

The council's transport and waste solutions director Stavros Michael said the clean-up of both last month and this week's weather events would be ongoing.

It was expected to take about another week to clean up slips and flooding, while work to fully reinstate failed road sides, stream embankments and establishing new retaining and drainage structures would be "much longer term".

"In terms of clean-up it is too early to know what the costs will be."

Bay of Plenty harbourmaster Peter Buell said the "no wake zone" was in place in Okawa Bay until 8am Monday because of the high water level of Lake Rotoiti.

It means boats, jetskis or any other motor-powered vessels cannot travel at speeds that create a wake in the area.

"Because there are a number of properties exposed to the high water levels we hope this will reduce the risk of water being washed further on to their properties," Mr Buell said.

Lake Rotoiti has now dropped below the statutory maximum and Bay of Plenty Regional Council flood manager Peter Blackwood said about 46 cubic metres of water was flowing through the Okere Gates.

"In the last week generally between 160 to 300mm of rain has fallen in the Rotorua lakes with Lake Tarawera receiving 490mm."