Ruined carpet, sea-soaked furniture and soggy personal belongings remain stacked on front lawns along Kaiaua's main road after the coastline village was devastated by Friday's storm.
As many parts of the country move on from the summer tempest, residents in the communities worst-hit by the floods face a formidable task rebuilding their lives.
A large chalkboard outside The Pink Store, formerly Kaiaua Seaside Store, tells residents it is closed for business.
Inside the owner is far from slacking off. Lynn Yeager is filling in her insurance claim when the Herald enters. It's a big job - she's already dumped five chest freezers and five more are being returned to suppliers such as Tip Top.
The salt water that flooded her shop, rising half a metre up the dairy and cafe's walls, has destroyed the freezer motors.
She has also thrown out more than $5000 worth of drinks and ice creams ruined by the sea or from power being cut to the shop for more than 12 hours.
A thick brown layer of silt sits on the bottom shelves of one of the drinks fridges she hasn't had time to wipe yet. An unpleasant fishy smell from the hundreds of oysters washed up on the store's front step lingers.
"It was like we were in the water. It was really smelly stuff."
Of the 253 properties visited by building inspectors in Kaiaua village or along the coastline, 147 have been damaged.
Lynn Yeager, owner of the The Pink Shop in Kaiaua begins the clean up after Friday's floods. (Photo / Jason Oxenham)
The inspectors have deemed 13 houses uninhabitable, 71 partially habitable and 163 had damaged but liveable.
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