200 homeless in flood-hit zone

By Chris Daniels and Angela Gregory

About 200 people are still without proper accommodation in the Far North, but fears of disease after last week's flood devastation have eased and the priority is now on financial help.

Clean-up efforts continued yesterday in the Panguru, Pawarenga, Pakanae and Whirinaki areas as sewage, silt and mud were cleared from roads and homes.

The Mayor of the Far North, Yvonne Sharp, said a mass immunisation programme to guard against outbreaks of hepatitis, as had been earlier suggested, would not be needed.

She said the Minister of Maori Affairs, Tau Henare, who spent yesterday touring the flood-damaged areas, had donated $10,000 from Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry of Maori Development.

"He said this was a first gesture, and gave us an assurance there would be Government assistance."

A meeting of all local government, central Government agencies and aid organisations will be held today to decide what needs to be done and how much it will cost.

"Things like cash - we are going to need bucketsful," said Yvonne Sharp. "We are looking at big solutions. We've got to get these people back into a safe housing situation and this may mean a new house somewhere else."

She said a lot of work might be needed on the region's rivers.

Hokianga Health says any health risks are now minimal, though people are being advised about personal hygiene.

But it warns that Panguru is having difficulty maintaining safe water supplies.

The Far North District Council has been trucking water to the Waipuna Marae and local people are being advised to wash there. Meanwhile, contractors have been working through the valley pumping out septic tanks.

Barbara Walker, the Hokianga Health community health service manager, stressed the importance of volunteers keeping their hands clean as sewage was mixed with the mud and the risk of infections like hepatitis was high.

"Even for those guys working the tractors, they should wash their hands before they roll up a cigarette."

The Fire Service spent yesterday hosing beneath houses, clearing away silt and sewage that was starting to solidify.

Eight houses have been condemned as unfit to live in, and Yvonne Sharp said further inspections would lead to more being condemned.

The Ngapuhi spokesman for housing, Rudy Taylor, said while it was too early to say how many houses would be condemned, he estimated at least 20 Hokianga families would be homeless.

In Auckland, Hato Petera College and the Auckland City Mission have become drop-off points for donations of clothing and food. WestpacTrust is accepting donations at any of its branches.

Food, clothing and blankets will be taken to the Hokianga district today, thanks to help from trucking companies.