Heavy rain floods rivers, farmland near Opotiki

Floodwaters are covering large parts of the Eastern Bay of Plenty after 24 hours of heavy rain. Several larger rivers in the district appear to have spilled into surrounding farmland - around the Otara, Waioeka, and Waiotahi rivers. The Opotiki District Council has activated its Emergency Operations Centre and put portaloos out because the town's wastewater system has broken down. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Graeme O'Rourke tells Susie Ferguson what