Ōpōtiki residents are being urged to avoid 'unnecessary” toilet flushing as the Bay of Plenty is drenched with rain.

'Our wastewater pump stations have become inundated with stormwater and this is having an effect on some household bathrooms and toilets,” a statement from Ōpōtiki District Council said Saturday.

'Please avoid unnecessary discharge of wastewater during these times to help the network recover (flushing toilets etc).”

The council says portaloos will be available at the Rawinia Rangi Reserve (the old Rose Garden playground) for those that are having issues with their wastewater.

Transport agency Waka Kotahi advised Saturday afternoon that SH35 is closed overnight between Maraenui and Omaio due to a slip.

Waka Kotahi says contractors are working hard to clear a number of slips but it will not be safe to reopen the highway before nightfall.

The detour route is via State Highway 2 Waioeka Gorge.

Heavy rainfall is expected to persist in the region into Sunday, which poses additional risk. 'Conditions may be hazardous so please only drive if essential.”

The agency said earlier there were several other issues on local roads.

The public are being asked to report any problems they encounter.

'Our amazing crews are working as hard as they can but they can't be everywhere so please be patient,” says a Waka Kotahi NZTA spokesperson..

”We understand it's challenging for people living and working along SH35 at the moment and we appreciate their resilience.”

It is recommended checking the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website before heading off for information on which routes are affected by recent bad weather.

Meanwhile, police are reminding motorists to drive to the conditions in the Rotorua area due to bad weather.

There is a slip on State Highway 5, Ngongotaha Valley and surface flooding across the area.

Stuff