A Wairoa foodbank is calling for donations of dehumidifiers, appliances and bedding as the extent of the long term effects of last week’s flooding become clear.
More than 400 homes were inundated when the Wairoa River backed up at its exit into the ocean.
Money from the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery fund has been diverted to pay for the clean-up, but Jordan Winiata from Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa’s food hub Pātaka says about 100 whanau have lost everything.
He says repeated extreme weather events are pushing up the cost of insurance, straining family budgets and meaning many homes are under-insured or without any insurance.
“It’s becoming more and more difficult. There has been some initial data in regards to insured, under-insured and non-insured. The numbers are high,” Mr Winiata says.
Jordan Winiata
