Flooding on SH43 Forgotten Highway at Tokirima on Tuesday.
Photo: JUSTINE VAUGHAN / SUPPLIED
Two people trapped in floodwaters on SH4 near Taumaranui were rescued by locals in a jet boat.
The road between Eight Mile Junction and Taumarunui had been closed since Tuesday morning by multiple slips in the area after flooding in the central North Island.
Emergency services were called to a vehicle trapped by high water at about 4.30am on Wednesday, but could not get through the submerged road.
A rescue helicopter was called in, but was stood down after members of the public reached the vehicle and brought the pair to safety.
A FENZ spokeperson said at at least one crew is being sent to Taumarunui to help police in the in the flood-hit area.
Meanwhile workers are trying to clear up in the Ruapehu region following Tuesday’s rain.
Ruapehu civil defence controller Clive Manley said it would take two to three days for contractors to finish clearing the roads.
Ōhura, Matiere, and Tokorima remained cut off by slips and flooding.
State Highway 3 north of New Plymouth remains closed at Awakino
Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Road closures:
State Highway 3 north of New Plymouth remains closed at Awakino between Mokau and Piopio. There are multiple, smaller slips further south towards New Plymouth.
State Highway 4 remains closed between Eight Mile Junction (the intersection between SH3 and SH4) and Taumarunui.
State Highway 43 Forgotten World Highway remains closed from Whangamōmona to Taumarunui.
In Waikato, SH30 is closed from Te Kuiti and Benneydale, and SH31 is closed between Ngutunui to Oparau.
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