Cabins & Motorhomes – Uncertainty looms over flood-hit Wairoa

Samuel Rillstone, visual journalist

All that remains of Marie Tuahine’s home, which was badly damaged by flooding in June, are the wooden frames, bathtub and shower.

When she and her neighbours fled their homes on Apatu Street, the water was up to their knees.

She’s staying with friends because her home is one of 120 yellow-stickered homes. It will need significant renovations before she can move back in.

She is preparing to move into a cottage on her property, but will have to wait as preparations are still ongoing.

“I have no idea when I’m going to move in because I know it’s there, but the water and electricity still need to be delivered and they told me they’ve put in some decking there too, so all that still needs to be done.”

Tātau Tātau O Te Wairoa provides cabins and small houses for whānau who have been unable to live in their homes since Cyclone Gabrielle, and has stepped up its efforts since the floods in June.

Since Cyclone Gabrielle, more than 120 people have been in temporary accommodation and Tātau Tātau knows of another 50 people who need it.

A total of 74 cabins were delivered and a further 45 were submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

Chief Executive Lewis Ratapu said the city needs more permanent housing.

“It will be… 170 whānau living in temporary accommodation so they need to move somewhere but what happens is as we have found, when whānau go back to their home, another family moves into that hut so that is one of the issues, we don’t have enough housing, we will continue to force whānau to move into huts because a lot of them are overcrowded now.”

He said the government’s $3 million in support was disappointing and believed more funding was needed.

This month the Government set up the Temporary Accommodation Service to provide people with short or medium term accommodation while repairs are carried out.

The government has proposed renting campervans as temporary accommodation, but Ratapu said they would not meet the needs of whānau for a longer period of time.

The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment says it is working closely with whānau who have indicated that campervans would not be an appropriate solution.

It is anticipated that some whānau may stay in the cottages for up to two years.

“The problem now with another 100 homes needing repairs is that we’re having difficulty repairing homes after Cyclone Gabrielle. So it’s likely that families who survived that flood will stay in their homes longer because it’s hard to find repairmen.”

It’s not just tiny homes that help whānau survive housing challenges.

A huge Pātaka distribution site has been set up in the city’s old New World. It includes food, clothing, and donated equipment.

About 50 Māori rangers from across the country give their time to volunteer at Wairoa and have helped more than 150 homes so far.

Jordan Winiata said that while cleaning supplies were still needed, whānau were now entering a phase where they needed supplies to help them get their homes into a livable condition.

“We’re starting to get requests for bedding, we’re starting to get requests for larger, commercial-scale dehumidifiers to help dry out homes, we’re starting to get requests for heating, so right now we’re looking at wood deliveries and getting energy-efficient heating.”

The regional council’s report on the June floods has been published and a government review is expected in August.

Ngāti Kahungunu chief executive Bayden Barber wants Māori worldviews to be taken into account in reviews.

“You know our experts in taiao need to be involved in river management, shoal management, but not only that, I think Māori need to be an integral part of disaster response but also special planning.”

He also wants Māori to be included in civil defence legislation, saying it makes no mention of Māori.

Crisis Management Minister Mark Mitchell said in a statement he welcomed suggestions from iwi on how to improve crisis management.