New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty lifts emergency status as crews clear landslides after storms, with road closures and safety warnings ongoing.

A state of emergency has been lifted in parts of New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty as Ōpōtiki enters recovery after severe storms. State Highway 2 remains closed past Matawai, and SH35 is shut between Potaka and Hicks Bay due to landslides and debris. Crews are clearing 13 overslips, four underslips, and 20 blocked areas, including a massive 200,000-cubic-meter slide on SH35. Despite saturated terrain and ongoing risks, progress continues, with NZTA expecting a clearer timeline this week for restoring at least one lane on SH2. Authorities urge public caution and adherence to traffic management on open roads.