There are still 104 people sheltering at civil defence centres and shelters around Auckland, weeks since the Anniversary Weekend storm which displaced thousands.
There are seven civil defence centres still open but only four are open 24 hours – two in Henderson, one in Māngere and one at Colin Maiden Park in Ōrākei.
At the Moana-nui-a-Kiwa site in Māngere, there are still four people sheltering overnight in the centre: a sole parent with three children and another young woman.
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board Chair Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich said the centre will be closed down this week, on Friday, February 24.
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By the time it closes, he is optimistic the four people will have been moved into proper temporary accommodation.
“We will advocate for them through the Temporary Accommodation Service which has been working really hard to place people. We’ve got a few days and we’re happily accommodating them here,” he said.
While the Māngere civil defence centre (CDC) was put up immediately after the flooding, those still saying there haven’t been staying there the entire time, rather arriving sometime in the last seven days.
Bakulich said they will have been displaced from their homes back in January 27, but might not have been aware of the CDC, or of help available generally.
RICKY WILSON/STUFF
Volunteers managed donations and supplies in the immediate aftermath of the Auckland Anniversary floods.
“There are a number of situations here. Either they’ve stayed in their home, or they may have been sleeping in their cars.
“There are some cases where people have been moving from place to place, and it’s come to a stage where they feel they need to come here.”
Since it was established, some 40 people have stayed at the site, he said.
He said the Māngere centre has seen its peak demand, and those still coming through “finally had the courage to come and ask for help,” he said.
Ricky Wilson/Stuff
Four people – three of them children – have still been sheltering at this centre this week.
But he wants to keep information ‘pop-ups’ going in case people are still struggling in the wake of the floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
“People need information on a whole number of things. One we’ve identified is those who are stuck with insurance claims.
He said there is a dedicated unit of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment which helps with that, but people need to know it’s available.
Some people have come asking for help with their landlords too, and how to handle their damaged rental.
Visit Auckland Emergency Management for more information on where to get help.
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