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Nelson iwi have been doing what they can to support whānau as firefighters continue to mop up a huge fire in the regions.
Residents of Wakefield have been allowed to return to their homes, but emergency services iwi liaison officer Shane Graham says marae in the area remain on standby in case people have to be evacuated again.
He says the chairs of the various iwi in the region have participated on a strategic, operational and cultural level with councils and emergency services.
"Providing karakia for the teams before they go out, karakia for the animals that have to be disposed of and whānau who feel anxiety and distress, they have been supported through our connections with Te Pūtahi o Te Waipounamu and their navigators who have done a fantastic job keeping an eye out for whānau that are stressed," Mr Graham says.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern along with Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi, and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor will be in Nelson this morning to assess what additional Government support is needed.
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