More than 100 people with uninhabitable homes in Napier are being held in a temporary accommodations, says the minister for emergency management.
Minister of Emergency Management Kiri Allan in Napier earlier this week, with Mayor Kirsten Wise (right). Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
Minister Kiri Allan is in Napier until Saturday afternoon.
Allan returned to Napier yesterday to assess the areas affected by this week's flood and is expected to pitch in with the clean-up effort today.
"It's quite clear that there is some significant damage to some people's homes and they won't be returning for sometime," she said.
"There are whole communities have been significantly impacted, a lot of people still outside there home."
About 102 people had been held in temporary accommodations, she said.
Allan said she would be reporting back the devastation she saw in Napier to her colleagues on Monday and would decide on the type of support the government could provide.
"Right now, my task will be to collect these stories that I have received from people on the ground here.
"We will be really focused on insuring that there is the right amount of support around the community to keep them in a positive shape as they continue with their clean-up."
She will be working with the community and the council to understand the type of help people need.
About 300 volunteers today answered the call to help residents affected by Monday's flood.
They worked in the worst-affected areas of Marewa, Maraenui, Tamatea and Onekawa.
The clean-up has been organised by Te Whanganui a Orotu, and its chief executive, Tania Eden, said much more work needs to be done.
Allan has praised all those who've pitched in to clean up the worst flood-affected areas of the city.
The Minister, who took part in the clean-up herself today, said government departments and NGOs have played vital roles during the week and have come together to help people in their time of need.
Allan said the work is really only just beginning and says the community will face challenges for some time to come.
On Tuesday, the government said it would grant Napier $100,000 for its mayoral disaster relief fund.