Rodney District local board member Mark Dennis says the northern Auckland settlements of Helensville, Parakai, South Head and Kaukapakapa had to fend for themselves.

Growers and farmers in Hawkes Bay and Tairawhiti are tackling the massive job of clearning mud and silt from their orchards, vinyeards and paddocks. What is the impact of this on soil health in two regions known as the fruit bowl of the country? Associate Professor Peter Almond is the Head of Soil and Physical Sciences at Lincoln University.

Hawkes Bay Federated Farmers has set up an emergency group to help co-ordinate support for farmers affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Farmers can access a feed co-ordination service and the Farmy Army for assistance. Hawkes Bay Federated Farmers President Jim Galloway says it's too soon to say how many stock have been lost in the flooding or how much productive land has been lost. He tells Susie a government support package won't touch the sides and much more financial assistance will be needed.

The Mayor of Marlborough says recent disuptions with the Cook Strait ferries are frustrating and difficult, with passengers stranded on either side. The Interislander ferry Kaiarahi developed engine problems on Monday night and has been taken out of service while repairs are done. Interislander says it cannot reschedule bookings made on this ferry, but will provide refunds. The Kaitaki is currently a freight-only service after it lost power in the Cook Strait last month. Meanwhile Bluebridge is also down to one passenger ferry.

It's now more than a week since Cyclone Gabrielle tore through the country - and still the stories and the scale of the devastation continue to unfold. There are still communities across Tairawhiti and Hawkes Bay which remain isolated and are relying on helicopters for vital supplies. The massive job of removing mountains of silt has started - but there are now health warnings about the potentially toxic dust. Water restrictions remain in Gisborne and Wairoa residents are still being told to boil their water. Those supplies will be welcome in the small Hawkes Bay township of Rissington - to the west of Hastings, where Liz Barry lives. She describes the current situation to Susie Ferguson.

RNZ Sports reporter, Joe Porter with the latest on the White Ferns, Black Caps, the ongoing saga surrounding the naming of the next All Blacks coach and analysis of the Halberg Awards.

Luke Sergent had been working as an arborist when injury forced him to rethink his career.  His online company, SouthernLite Packs based in Kingston, near Queenstown is flourishing.

Rebecca Stevenson talks about the difficult task of assessing the economic damage of Cyclone Gabrielle.  Also, she talks to Susie about whether talk about an AirBnB Bust is overdone.

Whangarei District Mayor Vince Cocurullo confirms some people have been 10 days without power, and parts of the roading network have taken a heavy hit, in particular the road through the Brynderwyns.

Around the motu - we're now checking in with reporter Tim Brown in Hawkes Bay - he's been talking to two Esk Valley residents about their ordeal in rising flood waters