Tribe puts people before property in Ahuriri flood response

Marae round Ahuriri Napier are gearing up to take hundreds of whānau displaced by the floods that have submerged parts of the city.

Ngāti Kahungunu chair Ngahiwi Tomoana, who cut short his attendance at an education conference to get back to the city, says a low lying area that used to be called Moananui is a lake again.

That includes areas like Maraenui, Marewa and Pirimai with high Māori populations,

He says the mixing with wastewater makes the stormwater a health hazard, and people need to get out.

"Civil Defence and other councils have been more worried about property and infrastructure than people, so we've got that balance right from this morning, people first, property second, and we’re making sure the needs of the people are being met," Mr Tomoana says.

Civil Defence Minister Kiritapu Allen was in Napier this morning to view the damage and put $100,000 into the mayoral fund to pay for emergency supplies.

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