When Cyclone Gabrielle arrived, 58-year-old Wade Mannell, his partner and dog were staying at the Haumoana freedom campsite next to the coast.
“The water started coming in, the waves came up and the debris. The council told us to move.”
They quickly went to Clive and stayed in the BP petrol station carpark for the night.
On Wednesday, they travelled to Hastings Sport Centre where they finally got some warm food.
Mannell was grateful for the help they got. “There’s plenty of food here and toilets and showers.