Dozen Kaiaua homes left unlivable after huge storm

The storm that hit the country last week packed "tremendous power", and was the worst seen in decades for areas of Waikato, residents say.

Seawater flooding of rural properties in Kaiaua is going to have a serious impact on farmers, Federated Farmers says.

Authorities providing relief effort to the flood-hit town of Kaiaua on the western side of the Firth of Thames say it will take months before the community returns to normal.

A massive clean-up of storm damage got under way on the Coromandel Peninsula today, and on the other side of the Firth of Thames.

Several endangered bird colonies have been destroyed by the king tide after Friday's storm.