A slip on Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Rd near Hilltop Rd. Photo: Supplied / WSP
Urgent repair works on key routes continue after Cyclone Gabrielle and other recent weather events caused mass closures.
Those crossing the Auckland-Northland border are faced with massive detours, with State Highway 1 through the Brynderwyns closed until at least Friday, as was the main alternative route via Mangawhai.
On the East Coast, 59 local roads were still closed in the Gisborne region and 17 bridges were either broken or washed away
Meanwhile, wild weather saw tornadoes smash into the Bay of Plenty township of Waihi Beach on Saturday morning, causing considerable damage to seven properties and ripping three rooves off.
It cut power to thousands of homes, with an eyewitness saying it was one of the most amazing things he had ever seen.
Waka Kotahi national emergency response spokesman Mark Owen told Morning Report "excessive" rain on Friday night had been a real challenge for people in Northland and its crews were working hard to restore access.
The focus was on getting the Brynderwyns reopened as the current detour through Dargaville could see about an hour added to a journey, depending on the destination.
A slip south of Brynderwyn shut State Highway 1 in both directions. Photo: Supplied / Waka Kotahi
The expectation was to have the route reopen by Friday, but it all depended on the weather, which was expected to get worse again.
"As soon as we can stabilise it, we will be desperate to get that road open so we can restore that main link to the Northland region."
The East Coast was a main focus, Owen said.
Crews were working on getting a bailey bridge installed along State Highway 35 between Tolaga Bay and Te Puia Springs as it was a "vital link".
The road between Wairoa and Napier had "excessive damage" and would take some time to fix, he said.
Crews were making "good progress" on the road between Napier and Taupō, Owen said.
They were working hard to restore freight through there and he said he hoped to have an update later in the week.
Owen said crews had been working really hard over the last couple of weeks and workers had been rolling in from across the country.
"We just ask people to please be respectful."
Owen said temporary speed limits were in place for a reason and crews were working hard for the safety of others.
A water spout off the Bay of Plenty coast near Waihi where a tornado hit on Saturday morning. Photo: Supplied / Bevan Taikato
Tornadoes in Waihi Beach
Tornadoes that tore through Waihi Beach on Saturday left "horrible scenes of destruction", Western Bay of Plenty mayor James Denyer told Morning Report.
As far as he was aware, no-one was injured but areas where at least three water spouts hit were "extraordinary".
"People were a little bit stunned but they showed amazing resilience."
Denyer said one property had been red-stickered as a result but there had been no need for the shelters the council had begun preparing in the wake of the tornadoes.
The storm passed quickly and neighbours began pitching in to start repairs straight away, he said.
More wild weather is in store for the North Island today, with a heavy rain warning and watches in place.
