The state of emergency in Napier has been lifted after torrential rain and floods earlier this week, with over 100 homes left uninhabitable.
The city’s mayor, Kirsten Wise, announced the end of the state of emergency at a media briefing on Friday afternoon, RNZ reported. Hawke's Bay Civil Defence manager Ian Macdonald said that 102 homes are now considered uninhabitable, after assessing 449 properties.
Due to flooding caused by the region’s heaviest rains in 57 years, insurance claims are mounting, with at least 200 home and 140 motor claims lodged with a single insurer.
One of the heavily damaged properties was Henry Hill School in Onekawa. According to Jason Williams, the school’s principal, the water quickly rose to knee level, which then eventually reached his waist.
The school, while heavily damaged, is set to reopen on Monday.
“We have half the school, so we'll use that half, so we're going to be squashed and crammed in, but we need the kids back here,” he said.
Numerous volunteers and organisations have pitched in with relief efforts, and the government has granted the city $100,000 for its mayoral disaster relief fund.
“There have been so many offers of help from all over the city, and I think you'll see that tomorrow will be pretty amazing and just everybody pulling together and supporting those that have been impacted by this,” Wise said.
