An orange heavy rain warning for the Bay of Plenty remains in place until early this afternoon.
There is surface flooding and State Highway 2 is closed near Whakatane, at the Waimana Gorge, due to flooding and slips.
MetService is warning the ongoing rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly, and driving conditions may be hazardous.
Lisa Glass from Emergency Management Bay of Plenty spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
