Almost a month after June's devasting flood, RNZ visited Wairoa, a town in recovery and demanding answers.
Homes are badly damaged, some are stripped back to timber frames, and residents are forced to decide whether they can rebuild.
One resident has decided not to refurbish while another says she is not leaving her home of 50 years.
RNZ's Ashleigh McCaull and Samuel Rillstone spoke to residents. You can watch what they found at the top of this page.