Danny-Boy Korepa can't seem to avoid the worst of the wet weather that has lashed the country in the past two weeks.
He was evacuated from his house in Edgecumbe after severe flooding saturated the town, and now finds himself in the thick of Cyclone Cook as it tore through Whakatane.
He told NZ Herald Focus' Tristram Clayton that he and his family were offered accommodation after arriving at an evacuation centre in Whatakane.
"It's awesome, never had help like that before and they're there for everyone, too. There's about 11 of us under one roof," he said.
"The locals here are massive, they've been helping out bringing in kai for everyone, that's one thing I buzz out on around here."