Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the new government is "in action mode" for the East Coast's cyclone recovery, but says more funding or regulatory help is not yet confirmed.
Luxon is visiting Hawke's Bay today, and spoke with local government leaders while in Wairoa, one of the regions hardest hit by the deadly Cyclone Gabrielle early this year.
Speaking to reporters this afternoon, he said the coalition government's 100-day plan had two points on it aimed at cyclone recovery to get "actually action happening".
"We want to work on the work that the previous government [did], we want to support everything, meet all those obligations, we're not here to change everything, but we do want to turbocharge and accelerate the delivery and the recovery here."
The PM's visit to the region fell short of a money announcement many desperately wanted. (Source: 1News)
He said 10 months after the event "things have been moving a little bit too slowly".
"That's why I wanted to come personally."
He was accompanied by Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick and Napier MP Katie Nimon.
"We want to get back to Wellington next week and start sifting through the issues."
He said the Wairoa visit had been very helpful and it was "obvious" there was a need for work on flood protection.
"Some of that hasn't happened since [Cyclone] Bola and we need to have that conversation and sort that out properly and get some urgency around that."
He said housing was also a challenge, including addressing getting people out of emergency housing and into permanent homes.
"But there's no point building back houses if we don't have flood protection in place."
Asked if that urgency might mean a funding announcement from the Government, Luxon said one of the Government's "actions" was to "come back in the New Year with using orders in council if we have to come through and expedite stuff".
"We have to work out what we need financially but also what we need to do regulatory as well. Obviously there's major challenges here with roads, and having driven from State Highway 2, it was very necessary for us to do that, that's why we wanted to do that in a van to experience and see it for ourselves.
"There is some really big things for us to do, yes some of it is money, but a lot of it is actually action and decision to get on to get some things done, and some of it is actually regulation.
"We're in action mode and we've got to get things done for New Zealanders."
'It's ridiculous' - Locals react
Locals have been left frustrated after the Government delegation's visit failed to yield crucial funding announcements for the region.
Manu and Julie Amato are living in a temporary home and garage that also serves as their kitchen and wardrobe.
They're among 130 Wairoa residents without insurance who are enduring the prolonged wait for support.
"This, to me, is not acceptable. We've waited such a long time — it's ridiculous!" the couple said.
Just three out of 133 Wairoa residents have officially returned home, 10 months on from Cyclone Gabrielle.
A further 14 homes have been damaged by flooding last month.
Wairoa Recovery manager Benita Tahuri said there needs to be more urgency.
"The pressing need for urgency, especially as the frequency of storms continues to rise, causing further distress among residents," she said.
"I just don't know if people are seeing or hearing the struggle that we've got across the country.
"Just because we're not on the news or in the newspapers doesn't mean our families aren't suffering."
While the Government assured it is listening to the plight of locals, they're seeking concrete actions as Christmas and the anniversary of the cyclone rapidly approaches.
Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said Luxon "knows what we need — he knows we're hurting".
"We're vulnerable and need to get out of this state of anxiety and unite as a community."
Additional reporting by Henry McMullan
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