People are urged to drive with extra care and caution today with heavy rain warnings in place for both the Coromandel Peninsula and the Bay of Plenty (west of Kawerau) for most of today.

Drivers should be ready for weather related hazards – localised flooding, slips, rockfalls, and slippery roads – and must drive to the conditions.

Drivers should increase their following distance, reduce speed, avoid sudden braking, and use headlights if visibility is poor.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has contractors monitoring and ready to respond to any transport network impacts.

People are encouraged to check road and weather conditions before they travel. Roads may close at short notice if necessary.