Frank Simpson, owner of the farm on which Emily's parents worked, said they were holding up, considering what had happened, and Mike was beginning to work again to take his mind off things.
"They're coping pretty well. They have good days and bad days," Mr Simpson said.
There had been very few clear days since June 10, he said, so the search was tough.
"The weather's been atrocious, there's been heavy rain for nearly a fortnight - ever since it happened there was only one fine day when they did a major search - then they called it off. There are people going up there when they can to have a look on the beaches and that - Hari Hari people."
He said there were two rivers and it was a difficult area to search - they didn't want to lose anyone else.
"We're lucky to have Mike - we could have lost him too the way things happened."
At the time of the accident, one of the men grabbed Emily and Sandra out of the vehicle, Mr Simpson said.
He said Mike took them but lost grip of his little girl.
"It was lucky we didn't lose Mike too - his wet weather gear was wrapped around his legs. It was his strength that saved him, but his family was torn out of his hands because he tumbled in the water.
"This community has had some tragedy in the past. Families have come to help - in rural areas we really look out for our own."
Mr Simpson said the Lions had raised funds so that Mike's parents to fly to New Zealand and be with him and his wife.
And he and his wife had recently gifted Mike and Sandra a framed photo of Emily.
"They haven't got many photos of her. We look after them - they've got no relatives in New Zealand," he said.
He said they were talking about having a memorial soon - but were hoping they'd recover her body first.
