More misery on the way as forecasters warn of rain and gales

By REBECCA WALSH, JAMES GARDINER, ANNE BESTON and NZPA

Battered North Island residents have been warned to expect more bad weather.

MetService forecasters say a front could unleash heavy rain in the west from Wellington to Taranaki.

Civil Defence and Emergency Management director John Norton said: "The severe weather warning for today for areas already affected by the heavy rains of this week are a cause for concern ... "

The MetService expects heavy rain and gales to pummel the lower North Island today and on Saturday.

Up to 100mm of rain could fall in the Tararua Ranges tonight, swelling rivers in Manawatu and Wairarapa.

Civil defence national controller Mike O'Leary reinforced the warning that the emergency was not over.

"This is probably one of the largest national disasters we have suffered in modern times," he said.

"The ground and river catchment areas are sodden. A relatively small rainfall could have a disproportionate effect."

MetService forecaster Bob Lake said heavy rain and gales were expected to hit the West Coast of the South Island, spreading to the lower North Island by this afternoon.

The outlook threatens to compound the despair of hundreds of people in the lower North Island facing huge cleanup bills from the devastating floods.

The Government yesterday announced plans to help people affected by the flooding, including special needs grants and counselling for farmers and their families.

But it says it is too early to say how much it will contribute financially to assist with the damage bill which is estimated to exceed $100 million.

A spokeswoman for Civil Defence Minister George Hawkins, said it was "too early to talk about any dollar figures" as assessments were still being done.

Mr Hawkins, who yesterday visited affected areas in Manawatu and Rangitikei with Prime Minister Helen Clark, said the Government plan included sending Taskforce Green workers to help with the clean-up, as well as advice to farmers.

Government agencies would co-ordinate their activities with Civil Defence and Emergency Management groups in problem areas.

MAF would appoint up to six agricultural co-ordinators, offer advice to farmers and establish what resources were needed for recovery.

The ministry would provide special needs grants and counselling.

Mr Hawkins said Transfund would pay all the cost of repairing bridges and roads that were part of the state highway network, and up to 85 per cent for local roads and bridges.

The Government would reimburse councils for up to 60 per cent of the cost of repairing essential infrastructure.

Helen Clark was moved to tears after flying over flood-ravaged Feilding in an Air Force helicopter and meeting flood victims.

"Our hearts are bleeding for them," she said.

She offered comfort to devastated Tangimoana residents.

One of the home owners affected was Judith Grootjans, who Helen Clark comforted outside the Te Kawau rugby hall.

Mrs Grootjans was among the 49 Tangimoana residents whose homes were declared uninhabitable by building inspectors.

"She just asked if we had a home to go to and I said, 'No'," a tearful Mrs Grootjans said.

"She told me, 'We're all with you'."

Dressed in gumboots, black trousers and a polar fleece jacket, Helen Clark strode from the helicopter into the packed public hall to loud applause.

"We know that it has been an appalling natural disaster; people have been shocked," she said.

In South Taranaki, three people missing in the flooded Waitotara Valley were found safe and well.

An elderly man and an 11-year-old boy, missing at an isolated marae in the valley, were flown to safety, with a missing telecommunications worker.

A mother and her sick baby and two girls and their father were also airlifted out of the cut-off valley yesterday.

Some remote areas have been without power or telephone for three days and it is not known how long they will have to wait.

The tiny village of Scott's Ferry near Bulls was closed off last night with reports police had warned they would arrest anyone trying to enter the settlement over fears of looting.