$100,000 to Northland Flood Relief

The Government has committed $100,000 to help Northland as it recovers from last week's storm which left much of the region underwater.

"Floodwaters have affected many homes and families," Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye says.

"Some communities have been isolated and without power for a number of days. The roading network has suffered damage from slips and flooding."

Ms Kaye and local MP Mike Sabin will tour Kaitaia and other areas tomorrow to inspect flood damage. Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy will visit farms and orchards in the Hikurangi area.

A mayoral relief fund established and maintained by the Far North District Council, Kaipara District Council, Whangarei District Council and Northland Regional Council will continue.

"There is currently welfare provision available for families that have been affected, however the mayoral relief fund will enable other assistance for families who may need support at this time," says Ms Kaye.

Some parts of the flood-stricken Far North risk running short of food and fuel because supply trucks can't get past a slip south of Kawakawa.

State Highway 1 between Whangarei and Kawakawa was closed at the weekend after half the road collapsed, and Labour's Kelvin Davis says alternative routes can't cope.

"This weather event has shown that when the main road in and out of the north fails, the side roads are just not able to cope as detour routes," he said today.

"Right now Te Tai Tokerau is at risk of running low on basic necessities such as bread, milk and fuel because supply trucks can't get past the slip."

Mr Davis, who has turned his electorate office into an emergency relief centre, says many households have lost freezers full of food because of power cuts.

"Now they may have to contend with not being able to re-stock the basics, and if petrol supplies dwindle people in outlying areas may struggle to even get into town."

He says the Government should "step up" and help local councils fix their infrastructure problems which have been highlighted by the storm.

"The bad weather has amplified how susceptible the North really is at times like this. Our roading infrastructure is a major source of concern," he says.

But Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says the Government has up to $1.66 billion worth of funding committed to Northland roading projects, and claims most it will be cut in a Labour government.

"You don't have to convince the Government that Northland needs better roading, Mr Davis. Convincing your caucus colleagues and the Green Party will be a much tougher task," Mr Brownlee says.

Around 200 Far North properties have been off the grid for almost one week, but that number is expected to be reduced to 100 tonight.

A new fault this morning cut power to another 40 homes, but is expected to be fixed this afternoon.

In a population of 100,000 people, an elderly woman is the only one still off the grid in the Whangarei and Kaipara Districts.

Officials are still working with flood-hit families in Moerewa, with firefighters pumping out 1200 cubic metres of water until late last night.

MetService meteorologist John Law says locals should get a reprieve later this week.

"This week looks much better […] We're not likely to see an awful lot of rain."

Mr Law says there will be brief showers across the very top of the North Island today and tomorrow, but these will clear later in the week.

"Compared to what we've seen it's much, much more settled."

However, with a lack of cloud cover, cooler nights are predicted. Frost is expected to return as the overnight low drops below 4DegC across the region, and the high is only expected to reach around 12DegC.

In Paihia, Haruru Falls and Opua residents still face days with water restrictions.

An Upper Hutt mother, Talia Smith, drowned when she was swept away in the flooded Waitangi River at Haruru Falls on Saturday.

Her body was found in the river yesterday morning, about 1km from where she went into the water, police say.

It's understood Ms Smith, 28, had attended a birthday party. She was trying to reach her partly submerged car when she was swept away.

High tides are still affecting flood-swollen rivers and could cause fresh issues in some parts of the region.

Source: 3News

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