PUBLIC MEETING TODAY in person at Saxton Stadium or online via Facebook live from 2.30 pm.

This hui is for people who have been evacuated or have had their property impacted. Please stay off the roads if you don't need to be there in person to talk to someone - we will be live-streaming right here on our Facebook page from 2.30 pm.

We are working as quickly as we can to get people home safely and so far have looked at around half of all impacted properties.

We have a big task, and inspecting for land instability is more complex than for flooding. It may be some days before detailed inspections are completed – depending on the weather.

We have asked for more building officers from other councils around NZ.

Please wait to hear that your area has been inspected before returning home – if we haven’t checked homes properly, the land could still be unstable.

If you've left your home, let us know!

Please make sure you have registered as an evacuee with Council (03 546 0200), or at the Trafalgar Centre, so we can contact you directly about your home once inspections are completed. This applies whether you're a home owner or a renter. We will need an address and contact number.

PLEASE LIMIT TRAVEL AND IF YOU HAVE TO GO OUT PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY. Many roads remain closed. Some still have surface water or mud, or they have been damaged. Drive to the conditions. For the latest live road closures go to https://roadinfo.ramm.com/nz/roadclosuremap.html...

Please continue to conserve water. For now, please don't hose out your driveway or other activities that use a lot of water. We know this is frustrating, but Nelson's water supply is still under capacity and won't be able to cope with the extra use.

If you are cleaning up and have mud and rubbish to get rid of, watch this space, we will have an update in a few hours.

For information: Incident Information Centre is open in the Trafalgar Centre Nelson from 0830 -1830 with experts from the insurance council, MSD, iwi, Red Cross and more.

For residents who need help but are unable to leave their homes due to damage, call Council to let them know.

Please go to Saxton Stadium if you need help. Not just food and money, but emotional support too.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP. This has been an incredibly stressful time for those affected.

• Evacuated people who need accommodation, food, and support should go to Saxton Stadium where trained people are on hand to look after you. Please don't feel whakamā or shy- many of you won't have needed to ask for help before and it can be an uncomfortable feeling. Please remember this is what we are here for: if you have been affected by this emergency, you deserve to be looked after. Yes, you. 

• If you need help but can't leave you home due to damage, call the Council in the first instance. 03 546 0200. if your safety is at risk and you can't get out, call 111

• The Incident Information Centre in Trafalgar Centre Nelson is open from 0830 -1830 with experts from the insurance council, MSD, iwi, Red Cross and more.

* This is an STILL an ongoing emergency. We have come through the worst of the weather, but there is much more to do to ensure people can safely return home.

• To maintain Nelson’s drinking water, some areas of Stoke will receive water from the Richmond water supply. We are also making changes to our water network throughout Nelson city to help reduce demand, so residents may notice a drop in water pressure. Please conserve water.

• Please look for signs of land slippage around your home. There are so many slips that it's hard to keep up so we need people to be our eyes and ears. If you feel safe, evacuate. You don't need to wait for a formal evacuation. Please call council in the first instance if you need to report a problem.

• Stay away from floodwaters; they can be contaminated with wastewater and other nasties.

• We also want to remind people to take their pets with them should they still need to evacuate. Our welfare centre in Saxton Stadium will be able to accommodate your animal at the venue. If any animals have been left behind in your house, please contact MPI on 0800 00 83 33. To report or enquire about missing animals or those requiring emergency boarding, please contact the Nelson SPCA on 03 547 7171 or 022 434 0613.

• Iwi have put in place a rāhui for the whole of Te Tauihu, from Kahurangi Point to White Bluffs/Te Parinui o Whiti. A rāhui is the tikanga or customary practice that restricts people from gathering kai or accessing an area. This will remain in place until the environment has recovered sufficiently.

• The Public Health Service has issued an Advisory around Private Drinking Water Supplies, which recommends that people on their own supply affected by flooding should boil their water. Flood water can contain lots of nasty bugs that could make you and your family sick.

For State highway closures go to https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/regions/10

For local road closures and updates https://roadinfo.ramm.com/nz/roadclosuremap.html...

Q: What’s happening with the weather and river levels?

A: The focus has moved to landslips in terms of the biggest potential danger. Please keep an eye out for land movement and if you are worried for your safety, evacuate. We ARE STILL going door to door if we deem people NEED to evacuate, but you don't need to wait for that official door knock if you feel unsafe

Q. Are you SURE you don’t need donations of food or other goods? (new)

A. We are sure. Please don't think we don't value your kindness- especially those of you who have offered food. It's just a risky situation with keeping food safe and there have been cases in the emergencies where donated food has made people sick.

As for donated goods, it’s so tricky to store and distribute things that turn up, and we can end up stuck with unsuitable items to dispose of.

If you want to donate, please consider the mayoral relief fund.

Q. Can we volunteer to help yet?

A: Not yet sorry. Once the situation settles down and we know what and how we need to clean stuff up, there will be other opportunities to help.

Q: How do I donate to the Mayoral Relief Fund?

A: You can donate to the Nelson-Tasman Mayoral Relief Fund to the Nelson City Council bank account:

030703 0325055 00

please use the reference “Mayoral Relief Fund”.

Any donations will be eligible for a donation tax credit.

Q: How do I access the Mayoral Relief Fund?

The Fund will be open to any resident, ratepayer, business owner and not-for-profit organisation in Nelson or Tasman regions that has suffered financial hardship as a result of the weather event

details about how to apply, including the application form, will be made available as soon as possible on the NCC website

Q: Is there someone I can talk to about insurance?

Yes- there will be insurance experts daily at the Trafalgar Centre to talk to you kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face). You can also call your insurance company if you prefer. People should be taking photos and talking to their insurer as soon as they can.

Q: How long till we can get back to normal?

Sadly, it's going to take a while. Infrastructure issues are widespread and new issues are still coming up. We are working 24/7 for you and we won't stop until things are safe and the situation is under control.

Q: can I get an emergency MSD payment?

You may be eligible - MSD will be at the Trafalgar Centre today or call 0800 559 009

Q. Who can I talk to about my animals?

If you have left animals have at home after evacuating please contact MPI (0800 00 83 33) or SPCA (03 547 7171) for assistance as soon as possible.

Please don’t try to go through cordons to get animals who’ve been left behind. Our furry friends tend to seek a safe place and if home feels weird they may have gone somewhere else.

We hope to have more information on rescuing animals today

Q. How long will we be in a state of emergency?

A. At this stage, we are in a state of emergency for 7 days (until Wednesday). Basically it just means we have certain powers to make things happen to preserve community safety in an emergency (less red tape)

Q: I am really stressed. Can I talk to someone?

Yes, you can call or text 1737 for 24/7 confidential support