Fewer red-stickered properties in region
There are now 91 red-stickered homes in the Nelson-Tasman region, Civil Defence says.
Of those, 88 are in Nelson City and three in the Tasman District. That’s down from 95 homes on Monday.
The number of homes with yellow placards has risen slightly to 103 properties, with 90 in Nelson and 13 in Tasman, up from 86 on Monday.
There are now 562 whitestickered buildings.
Civil Defence was unable to say how many of these homes were rentals.
The numbers change as teams continue inspections of homes affected by floodwaters or slips.
Red-stickered homes must not be entered under any circumstances. Yellow-stickered homes may be entered temporarily but householders may not reside there. White-placard properties have been assessed and can be reoccupied with caution.
Nelson Tasman Civil Defence and Emergency Management public information manager Paul Shattock said accommodation had been arranged for everyone who initially requested assistance.
As the region moved out of a state of emergency and into a recovery phase on Wednesday, the Government’s Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) was activated.
Temporary accommodation is used for a short to medium term while repairs are made.
Housing Minister Megan Woods yesterday said TAS was accepting registrations from those who could not return to their homes, needed help finding temporary accommodation, and had not already been contacted by TAS’s placement team.
‘‘We expect to have a fuller picture in the coming weeks. So far, 21 households have registered.’’
Nelson MP Rachel Boyack urged anyone who believed they might need assistance to register, even if their property had not yet had a complete geotechnical assessment. ‘‘We’d rather know the potential need for the future than not know.’’
Boyack said that once the extent of the need was clear, a ‘‘whole range of options’’ could be considered.
Wherever possible, TAS used existing, undamaged residential housing as temporary accommodation, but other options had been used if there was a shortage of rental accommodation.
People can register their details online at temporary accommodation.mbie.govt.nz, or call 0508 754 163. Tenants and landlords of rental properties should visit tenancy.govt.nz.
Summit Property Management general manager Stewart Henry said the agency hadn’t received many inquiries yet.
‘‘It appears quite a number are waiting to see what the verdict is with how long it will be with their own place till it’s occupiable or what’s happening, rather than committing to a rental.’’
Henry said Summit had 15 properties that would be coming available over the next four weeks.
Nelson Tasman Citizens Advice Bureau manager Megan Cole said the team hadn’t been inundated with calls either.
‘‘Quite often that may come after that emergency has been lifted. We’ve had probably two tenancy issues around their houses that have been redstickered. We can help them and guide them and give them the information they need so that they feel empowered.’’