The work will get harder today for the more than 100 volunteers who are continuing to help clean-up the flood-stricken town of Edgecumbe.
Nearly 500 people had registered by Saturday to help in the Edgecumbe clean-up. Photo: RNZ / Leon Menzies
Dozens of helpers yesterday cleared silt from driveways, carted out damaged furniture and disposed of spoiled food from about 140 homes in the Bay of Plenty town.
Today's volunteers will be dealing with more damaged houses, where the flood waters reached above floor level.
The volunteer initiative is being organised by Ngāti Awa, the district and regional councils, Red Cross and Māori wardens.
The volunteer co-ordinator at Civil Defence, Pim de Monchy, said that meant there would be more silt, and a higher likelihood of carpet that needed to come out and damaged walls.
"There's an increasing need today to do things like lifting carpets up and taking those outside and opening walls to breath and things like that, so it's quite an extensive damage and clean-up operation today for the residents in Edgecumbe."
Mr de Monchy said around 100 wheelbarrows were being used to move silt and the volunteers were also helping people clean up inside their homes.
Volunteers will be helping out for the next three days.
Edgecumbe volunteers for Ngāti Awa Volunteers Army help out at Ruaihona Marae. Photo: RNZ / Adriana Weber
But Whakatāne District Mayor Tony Bonne said rubberneckers were hampering the Edgecumbe clean-up.
He said members of the Ngāti Awa volunteer army were reporting a steady stream of sightseers driving around the streets of Edgecumbe.
"They're getting in the way - and this is frustrating and annoying for the volunteers and residents working on the clean-up."
Mr Bonne said those who were concerned for the people of Edgecumbe should come and help with the clean-up.
An aerial shot of Edgecumbe on Sunday. Photo: RNZ / Sharon Brettkelly
State Highway 2 - the Waimana Gorge - is still closed due to large unstable slip. It will be at least mid-week before this section of road is reopened.
Galatea Road at Te Mahoe is still closed, as is Stanley Rd at the Waimana end due to a slip.
Boil-water notices remain in force for the whole district - except for Whakatāne town, Ōhope, Murupara, Matatā and Coastlands.
Tankers are there to provide a temporary water supply.
Whakatāne District residents and businesses - including those in Edgecumbe - are being strongly urged NOT to hose or wash mud and silt into drains and the stormwater system as the post-flood clean-up continues.
Residents are advised to pile mud and silt on the berms outside, or near, their properties. It will be collected over the next few days.
