But more than 1000 whānau in provisional Category 2 are still stuck, waiting for the council to hash out whether flood protection measures can save their homes.
“We’re just getting angry, sad, depressed, desperate,” said Jayde Demanser, whose Whirinaki home north of Napier is in Category 2A.
As for 2A homes, they could drop down to safe Category 1, move up to unliveable Category 3, or go sideways to Category 2C - meaning flood protection measures could protect them.
But there is “significant further assessment required” before the fate is decided.
Demanser said engineering consultants gave the regional council potential flood protection options two weeks ago.
“It’s like a carrot being dangled. I just want to know, all of us want to know. We just want an answer, regardless of which way it moves to, we just want an answer so that we can move forward.”
Lillie and Mia Demanser with a sign they will tie to the front gate. Photo / Jayde Demanser
Demanser said council would not commit to a timeframe to deliver any news, which was “the hardest thing of all”.
“They are giving away nothing. They’re just like a black void of non-communication, we have no idea.”
Swathes of Wairoa are also in 2A. While $70 million was earmarked for a flood protection scheme for the town, with no existing protection, councils were starting from scratch, so the category would not change until a design was agreed.
Michelle McIlroy’s home is near the river.
Like many of her neighbours, her whānau live without basics - running hot water, for example - in a cabin on her whenua. While it had been tough, she remained pragmatic.
“I think you just have to be real, and understand that things take time. I think we’ve all learned incredible patience.”
But until there was a plan in place to protect the community, many lived in fear.
“When it rains and we see the river rising, you get a little uneasy, there’s a lot of anxiety.
“A lot of our tamariki and mokopuna are afraid of the rain.”
As of Tuesday, 882 properties were in 2A, 149 were in 2C, and nine were 2P - meaning changes must be made to the property itself, like raising it or improving drainage.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council chief executive Dr Nic Peet said engineers were coming up with options to present to residents as fast as they could.
But it was a massive undertaking, dealing with a huge volume and variety of situations.
“Absolutely appreciate it’s hard for those people, they’re still in limbo,” Peet said.
“But what we’re really committed to do is working with them to find a mitigation that’s going to work, and that’s quite a complicated job.”
