Caring for families who have lost the lot

By STEPHEN COOK

For the past few days the 200 or so families of Awatapu have been the focus of the Eastern Bay of Plenty's flood relief efforts. Now most of them have returned to their homes - or what is left of them.

Awatapu has been the worst-hit of all the residential settlements in the Bay's sodden heartland. Hundreds of people were made homeless by the weekend flooding, which left behind a multimillion-dollar trail of devastation.

Times are tough for these families. Many tears have been shed, especially by those who have no insurance and no way of getting back on their feet.

Some families have lost everything. Many will struggle to recover.

Yesterday was the day they confronted their losses. The day they returned home.

Since Sunday, Awatapu had resembled a poor man's Pauanui but in the space of about 10 hours the watery wasteland was dramatically transformed when tens of thousands of litres of water were pumped into the Whakatane River, leaving behind streets of mud and silt.

The worst-hit families have been those occupying Housing Corporation rental homes. What little they have is ruined.

Most are on benefits and still owe money on household items lost in the deluge.

"They're the ones I really feel sorry for," said resident Irene Herman.

She is one of the lucky ones - her home was left relatively unscathed. The carpets are waterlogged and she expects that her car may be a write-off - but it could have been worse.

Mrs Herman had to raise the alarm on Sunday after her husband, Adam, suffered a heart attack she says was brought on by the stress of the flooding.

"He's okay now, thankfully," she said. "We'll be able to get on with our lives."

Longtime Awatapu resident John Almond also returned home to sopping carpets, wet floorboards and a backyard resembling Lake Rotoiti.

He said Awatapu was often frowned upon as a low-class rental estate, but its residents were "good, honest folk" who did not deserve the hand they had been dealt.

Many would have no option but to abandon their homes and find other housing.

"These people don't have options. Sure, it's nice to be home again but I feel for my neighbours in this suburb," he said.

Whakatane Deputy Mayor Brian Birkett hoped the council's mayoral relief fund would help many Awatapu families. They had had a rough run and needed all the assistance they could get.

"These are people who are not insured. Hopefully we can help them," he said.

Mr Birkett has been among those volunteers helping at Flood Relief Central - the Whakatane War Memorial Hall.

Although many families have returned home, the shelter will be open until at least tomorrow.

Housing the flood victims has been a huge exercise for volunteers. Warren Kanara has been in charge of the kitchen, in which six cooks have worked long hours.

"No one has gone hungry, that's for sure. Some have eaten better here than they do at home," Mr Kanara said. "It's been like one big marae here."

Awatapu evacuee Emma Maaka said the crew at the hall had been "fantastic ... working beyond the call of duty".

But she was looking forward to returning home today and sleeping in her own bed, after spending a couple of sleepless nights in her wheelchair.

"Like all the residents of Awatapu, I just want to get home," she said.

"I don't know what I'm returning to, but it's home and that's all that matters."

Feeding evacuees

* On a typical day, Whakatane people displaced by the floods have consumed 60 loaves of bread, 50kg of meat, 100 litres of milk and 70kg of potatoes.

* Meals have ranged from lasagne to roast dinners.

* The food has been donated by local supermarkets, businesses and residents.