With the state of emergency being lifted from Paekakariki, north of Wellington, today, workers now have a goal of having the town's hotel back in business tomorrow.
Last Friday night the Kapiti Coast town was hit by a massive downpour that brought tonnes of debris, mud and gravel off Paekakariki Hill,
burying a motel and causing parts of the town to be flooded in waist deep water.
Today Kapiti Coast District Council spokesman Tony Cronin said the Paekakariki Hotel, a restaurant and a cafe had all been closed by the storm damage.
"We're trying to get those up and operating as soon as possible to get some of the social things back into the community," Mr Cronin told NZPA.
"One of the aims is trying to get the pub open by Friday night."
About 80 people who had needed emergency housing, had now been found better temporary accommodation, and some of them should be able to return to their homes next week.
Around 20 homes and five businesses were still not able to be used, he said.
Ten houses are likely to remain uninhabitable for some time, and at least one might have to be demolished.
Mr Cronin said clean-up efforts were being helped today by 100 small waterblasters which were being made available to householders.
By tomorrow it was expected Mayor Alan Milne would be able to start making decisions about how a mayoral relief fund would be spent.
The fund, including $20,000 from Civil Defence Minister George Hawkins, had been around $20,700 yesterday, Mr Cronin said.
An assessment committee would be making recommendations on how the money should be spent, and Mr Milne had already indicated he wanted it focused on children's needs.
The mud in the town had now been removed, Mr Cronin said, but a bit of a dust problem had developed.
- NZPA
