Three homeowners in Tauranga's troubled Bella Vista development have been allowed to return home.
Photo: RNZ / Sophia Duckor-Jones
Despite three homes being declared safe, 18 other owners will have to wait several more weeks before finding out whether they will also be cleared to return. Currently their homes are deemed to dangerous to be occupied.
Degen Prodger was one of the owners cleared to move back into his home.
He said it felt like his old neighborhood had been pulled apart.
It's sad he's not living with his old neighbours, he said.
In March, the property owners at the development were told to evacuate amid fears Cyclone Hola would do serious damage.
Council chief executive Garry Poole said original testing of the entire subdivision deemed all properties too dangerous to live in.
However, a further site by site evaluation this week revealed three of the properties were safe to return to, he said.
A formal decision regarding the remaining 18 properties will be made on 6 June.