In Turanga nui a kiwa, Gisborne, businesses are digging deep into silt, and into their pockets for money they say they don't have. As they try clean up and get back onto their feet.

But there is support coming into the region - as well as the first tranche of the government's 'rolling maul' of relief funds, business groups are rallying to prop each other up. 

RNZ reporter Amy Williams spoke to Māni Dunlop.