The Transport Minister says discussions must be had on roads that keep flooding during extreme weather events.

Chris Bishop and the Prime Minister have been surveying damage in Te Tairāwhiti, and visiting still isolated communities.

Bishop says the focus now is reopening routes.

But he says NZTA and contractors need to discuss how to future-proof these crucial routes. 

"They'll be having a really good look at the Waioeka Gorge and thinking about what we need to do to rebuild - and it'll be the same with State Highway 35."

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