Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says Auckland remains in a local state of emergency and there has been damage to a number of roads.
Watch Chris Hipkins speaking here:
“The advice remains to avoid non-essential travel and to stay out of floodwaters and away from damaged areas. There are still more severe weather forecasts in areas such as Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and East Cape, with an orange weather warning in effect and more rain is expected here in Auckland.”
Hipkins says Enhanced Taskforce Green is being stood up, making available funding from MSD to employ people in affected areas to restore homes and properties.
Hipkins is holding a media conference after meeting Auckland business leaders over the impact of the flooding crisis in the region.
Earlier, he told Nine to Noon on Thursday the flooding is probably the biggest weather-related natural disaster the country has ever faced.
“We do have to be prepared for the fact that this isn’t going to be solved in the next few days or weeks. It is going to take quite a lot of time,” he said, when asked about the scale of the disaster and repair job ahead.
Insurers are bringing in extra staff from overseas and warning it will be years before all claims are settled for flood damaged homes, cars and contents in Auckland.
The Insurance Council said on Wednesday 15,000 claims had been lodged but that was just the start.
More to come…
Discussion about this post