Napier floods: Residents emotional as they face devastation and kindness in community clean-up

Even though it's been almost a week since the flooding, many Napier residents are only just coming to terms with the devastation. 

Volunteers in hi-vis vests were back on the street on Sunday, and the community couldn't be more grateful.

Tania Eden is the CEO of Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui o Orotu, organising everything from clean-ups to food parcels. 

"Elderly people just want someone to talk to, someone to help with insurance, pulling up carpet. [They] need food parcels, an immediate response," Eden says.

Local resident Lois and her two friends have done their best to clean up her sodden, flood-ravaged home. 

Lois is far from the only one in need, as volunteer Pete Findlay has watched residents become emotional when offered food parcels.

"There was one lady there, she came to the door, and when I handed the box to her she burst into tears. She was so moved," Findlay says. 

The group handed out 150 parcels on Saturday, and expect all 193 remaining in their makeshift food-hub to be gone by the end of the day. 

"We need people to help us, in relation to our response from the community," Eden says.

She is urging anyone who wants to volunteer to visit the Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui o Orotu Facebook page.

Six days after the flooding, the number of people staying at the holiday park-turned-welfare centre continues to grow. 

There are currently 160 people staying there and authorities know that number will rise. They're expecting a second wave of flood victims as assessments continue and damp and mould forces people out of their houses.

Despite six fine days, small lakes remain behind some of the worst-affected houses.

In front of those houses sit piles of residents' former lives -  now nothing more than contaminated waste. 

The Insurance Council says it's too early to estimate the damage, so as the water subsides, all most people want is a sense of normality for their family.