An upturned car and water tank were amongst the debris from the large slip on Motuhoa Road last week. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel
Thames Coromandel's local State of Emergency ends at noon tomorrow, and the mayor told RNZ at this point it is unlikely to be extended.
However, as the district tried to dry out it had challenges ahead, including two major slips on its main state highway and 63 storm-damaged homes.
Claire Steer, chair of Pāuanui Neighbourhood Support said the sun was shining today and things were getting back to normal after the recent storm.
"During the weather event last week we had a tremendous amount of rain, in fact probably more rain than we had at Gabrielle, but we were very very lucky we didn't have the wind that accompanied Gabrielle, so the amount of damage wasn't as bad initially," she said.
Pāuanui was flooded in for a time, and three houses had been red stickered.
Steer said being a sandspit the water had drained away easily, roads were now open, and locals had shown up for each other.
"The community's been amazing in that we've had just huge amounts of offers for temporary accommodation to help the local people," she said.
Across the river mouth from Pāuanui, Mt Paku faced a bigger clean up with a major landslip taking out a home and cutting the main water pipe into the community.
One of many slips on Tairua Whitianga Road. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel
Resident John Drummond lived two houses away and had been keeping a close eye on the slip.
"Over the last few days, the slip has pretty much remained where it was - although a few smaller bits of trees and land have slipped down the face," he said.
Drummond said the council was very quick to get the water back on, clear a way through the road and make sure the community was ok.
"The road down below has been cleared, the neighbouring properties are busily tidying up their properties and with the sun coming out it's all starting to look a whole lot better," he said.
Higher up the Peninsula at Cooks Beach, water was still ponding and smaller slips were being cleared.
Mercury Bay South Residents and Ratepayers Association chair, Paul Hopkins, said he would like to see small communities given more authority and agency to clean up after events.
"I think every small centre should have a designated group that actually gets in and can help out, it should be communities that fix problems not necessarily relying on your local council," he said.
Hopkins said what might seem like a small low-priority slip to council can really affect locals who currently were discouraged from clearing these themselves.
Thames Coromandel District mayor Peter Revell said all local roads were open and no community was still cut off.
But two major slips on the main road, Highway 25, remain and one was particularly challenging.
"The one south of Whangamata blocking the road between Whangamata and Waihi is massive and is going to take longer and at this stage I'm not sure NZTA is even putting an estimated date on when that might be cleared," he said.
SH25 between Hikuai and Tairua was severely damaged in some parts. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel
These slips would be causing problems for local residents who were no longer trapped but were inconvenienced.
"If you live in Whangamata and you were wanting to go for instance to Tauranga you can't just drop down and go through Waihi you need to come up and go across State Highway 25A and then head your way back down," he said.
Revell said it could take the rest of the week to complete rapid building inspections, checking in on storm-damaged homes.
As of today, nine homes had been red stickered (no one should enter), 24 yellow stickered (residents have limited supervised access only), and 30 white (safe to occupy).
He said everyone was out of those homes and were safe.
"The places which are being placarded are a mix of permanent residences and holiday homes, the impact would not be the same as if they were all residential properties," said Revell.
Today, Prime Minister Chris Luxon announced the government was adding $1.2 million to the five mayoral relief funds in affected regions.
Revell encouraged people affected by the storm to look into applying.
"That fund is for people to be able to apply and just get a little bit of financial help that they might need at this stage," he said.
As people take stock and the clean up continues, local MP Scott Simpson said everyone is hoping for a few dry weeks ahead.
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