Dozen Kaiaua homes left unlivable after huge storm

A dozen homes in the settlement of Kaiaua have been left uninhabitable by last week's storm.

Wild weather and a king tide combined to cause widespread flooding along both coasts of the Firth of Thames.

Locals described the storm as the worst they had seen in decades and the Hauraki District Council's assessment of the impact on Kaiaua has born that out.

The council has inspected 241 buildings in the area and found 12 are uninhabitable, 72 moderately damaged and 157 lightly damaged.

Three rural properties have also been left uninhabitable.