Photo: SUPPLIED/ Marlborough District CouncilGovernment ministers have arrived in flood-stricken Westport to see the damage to the region firsthand. Acting Minister for Emergency Management Kris Faafoi, Agriculture Minister and West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor, joined by Buller District mayor Jamie Cleine, carried out a flyover of the area to assess the situation before evaluating the flood damage on the ground. Faafoi said limited rentals in Westport continued to be a challenge, and as flood waters receded, welfare issues would become "more apparent". He added that other farmers had also lost hundreds of animals, though the overall damage was unclear at this stage. Cleine said nearby towns might be able to help with extra beds, though it was unclear at this stage if that would be needed.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 18, 2021 03:45 UTC