KEY POINTS:
About 30 elderly people evacuated from their Kaitaia pensioner flats at the height of last week's flooding will be able to return to their homes later this year.
Floodwaters more than a metre high surged through 25 Far North District Council-owned units on Tuesday night last week after the Tarawhataroa Stream breached nearby stop banks, sending a wall of water through the old people's homes.
All the residents went to alternative accommodation and the contents of each unit were packed up, cleaned and placed in storage.
The council said yesterday it had assessed the feasibility of redecorating and refurbishing the units and had decided they could be made habitable.
Work will start on restoring the first group of units at the end of this month.
It's hoped the first will be ready for re-occupation in mid-August with other units becoming available at the rate of one a fortnight until all are finished by Christmas.
Residents most in need will be rehoused first.
Meanwhile, a community flood recovery meeting is to be held in Kaeo this morning to inform residents how the district council's flood recovery programme is progressing.
Today's meeting follows one on Monday of key organisations involved with flood relief in Kaeo which heard options for reducing future flood levels in the town.
A Task Force Green team is now engaged on clean-up work in Kaeo and recruiting is under way for four or five new teams to work around the Far North.
Recovery teams from the council, Housing New Zealand and Work and Income have been knocking on doors around Kaeo and Kaitaia trying to find out how many people still need help.
The are also looking into whether or not householders are eligible for Earthquake Commission help.
People who have not been contacted but are worried about the safety of their houses should call 0800 770 997.
The Far North Mayoral flood relief fund currently stands at $138,000, which includes a $100,000 grant from Internal Affairs and $25,000 from power line company Top Energy.
Mayor Yvonne Sharp says each application for assistance from the fund will be looked at on its merits.
