Spirits high despite new downpours

Rain fell for much of the day yesterday in the Bay of Plenty, testing nerves already frayed by last week's devastating downpours.

More showers are expected today and tomorrow.

Narelle Boonen, who lost her house in floods at Matata, said locals feared another disaster yesterday when they awoke to heavy rain.

"There are so many stories about the streams overflowing again," she said, but added she was trying to not let it get to her.

"If it continues for three days, then I'll start worrying."

Nervous teachers at Matata Public School took some children home when the rain persisted.

Showers, some of them heavy, are expected in and around Tauranga this morning. The weather is expected to be fine this afternoon. Tomorrow, scattered showers are expected, with some heavy falls.

The rain stopped at 3.30pm yesterday in Mount Maunganui.

Tauranga firefighters said they attended one job during the day and it was not related to the rain.

The rain did not stop the cleanup from the floods. Volunteer firefighters returned to work feeling rested after two days off.

"They'll all in pretty good spirits," said local brigade co-ordinator Bonnie Dobson.

She said the showers had slowed progress a little but had not dampened the volunteers' morale.

Civil Defence said late afternoon that the rain had caused few problems. A blocked stream had threatened to flood in the morning but later subsided.

The situation was the same in Tauranga.

Mayor Stuart Crosby said the rain caused no damage but made people nervous.

"Any rain is of concern when we realise that some land is unstable," he said.

The rain, though persistent from early morning to mid-afternoon, did not warrant heavy rain warnings.

The MetService said 14mm fell between 6am and 3pm in Tauranga and slightly more at Awakaponga. Minor flooding has affected several farms near Edgecumbe. About 20 people have chosen to evacuate the area, hit hard by floods last year.

Disaster cost

* $45 million bill for insurers.

* $40 million bill for Government.

* $1.7 million in claims to Earthquake Commission from Matata.

Matata

* State of emergency remains in place.

* 113 houses damaged.

* 44 houses declared unsafe.

* 29 houses declared safe.

* 32 evacuees still at Rangitihi marae.

* State Highway 2 through town is closed, except to trucks and emergency vehicles at night.

* Water supply remains undrinkable.

* 50 septic tanks cleaned; 50 more to be cleaned.

* Public meeting: 4pm today, Matata Rugby Club

Tauranga

* 250 individuals and 64 households evacuated.

* 104 individuals and 59 households allowed back home (seven households yesterday).

* 382 properties have been inspected by public health officials.

* 133 declared unsanitary.

* Public meeting: 7.30pm, Wednesday June 8, Baycourt theatre.