The damage to the Hawke's Bay region is being described as complete and utter destruction.
37,000 homes still don't have power, more than the 31,000 in Napier, with Redclyffe substation still out of action.
Essential supplies are getting to isolated parts of Hawke's Bay and Tairawhiti.
Rotorforce Helicopters chief pilot Joe Faram has seen the destruction in Esk Valley at first-hand while carrying out rescues.
He thinks many Esk Valley homes won't be habitable because they're flood-damaged or completely buried in silt.
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