'Katrina? What about Matata?'

Bill Whalley surveys the devastation from what used to be his garden more than four months after the floods. Picture / Alan Gibson

Matata residents say the Government has let them down by failing to provide funding to restore the small Bay of Plenty town, more than four months after it was almost destroyed by floods and landslides.

They said this week that they were being ignored while the Government handed out money to victims of overseas disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.

"They're quick to write a cheque out for New Orleans," said Marilyn Pearce, whose property was one of 34 beachfront sections destroyed.

"Charity begins at home. Fix up your own people."

More than 50 Matata families are still in temporary accommodation.

Whakatane District Council recovery manager Diane Turner said the number was dropping but it could still take a year for some to return.

Kay Fergusson, whose property was ruined, said she resented the $2 million given to the hurricane victims by the Government.

"America's a rich country. They don't need that," she said.

Bill Whalley said he did not begrudge the hurricane victims the money because of what they had suffered.

"But by the same token, I feel we should be helped as well."

Mr Whalley said several Government ministers, including Prime Minister Helen Clark, had toured Matata after the May 18 disaster and promised help.

"They're all devastated and overwhelmed but not enough to hand over money."

The residents' comments came after a meeting with the Whakatane council on Wednesday night, when they learned it may take until Christmas for a Government decision on whether it will pay $7.6 million that the council has requested for the town's restoration.

Last week, the council announced that Civil Defence Minister George Hawkins had asked for more information before approving the funding.

The council had already submitted a report to Mr Hawkins outlining costings for the restoration.

Despite the report being prepared with the help of a Government-funded recovery facilitator, whose assistance the council had hoped would ensure speedy approval of the request, Mr Hawkins said it was inadequate.

Mrs Turner said he wanted further financial analysis and the information to be presented in a different way.

She said it was "very disappointing" after the hard work the council and recovery facilitator had put into getting the information to the Government by its August 29 deadline.

Residents expressed sympathy with the council, saying it had done its best to meet the Government's demands.

"They've worked very, very hard for the people," Mrs Fergusson said.

A spokesman for Mr Hawkins said the minister needed more detailed costings because the council was requesting public money.

"There is no precedent for a handout like this that the Government is considering."

The spokesman said it was unfair to say Matata was being ignored in favour of overseas disasters when millions had already been spent on the relief effort there and in other parts of the Bay of Plenty.

But National's Bay of Plenty MP, Tony Ryall, said the Government's response was not good enough.

"You go to Matata and meet many folks whose life has not changed since the night of the floods," he said. "They have no certainty about whether they will be able to go back to their homes."