Part of the urupā at Hinetamatea Marae in Anaura Bay has been washed out to sea with more graves under threat as rainfall continues to impact across Te Tairāwhiti.
Local resident and descendant Hera Ngata-Gibson spoke to Newshub about the devastation.
"There were unmarked graves that were quite old. And those kōiwi (bones) have been lost," she said.
"We are half expecting at some point that they may wash up on the beach so the locals will be trekking the beach regularly to see what might be found."
She said local kaumātua Jack Papuni has been guiding the process and liaising with whānau of those in the urupā, where at least half a dozen gravesites are at immediate risk of being washed out to sea.
"There's a lot of work to be done and some decisions that need to be made around the urupā and what might need to happen the in terms of keeping those remains of our loved ones safe in with us here"
On Wednesday, Ngata-Gibson said they had to exhume one relative and relocate him to a safer area in the urupā due to being exposed to the sea.
Locals are expecting bigger seas on Thursday night as high tides are expected just before midnight.
"We're just trying to make the best decisions for everyone and for those of our whānau who can't be here," said Ngata-Gibson.
Ngata-Gibson has been living next to the marae and the urupā - Te Tai o Huarewa, Hinetamatea Pā for 11 years and said she has never seen flooding like this, with her own pakeke (elders) in their seventies she says also haven't witnessed anything like this in the bay.
On Tuesday evening the bay was hit heavily with rain with their road turning into a river and redirecting the water up onto driveways and through homes, the papakāinga and the marae.
"It has been quite surreal initially for all our whānau out here, quite devastating as the sort of reality has been sinking in for many of us and for many of our whānau who aren't here."
The marae is situated on the southern end of Anaura bay where there are around 15 homes with the majority of the homes damaged in one way or another.
Ngata-Gibson said her home inside is fine but outside is just a big mess.
"There is at least a foot or two of silt right around our property. This is the same for our uncle and auntie.
"The overpass next door that paddock is just chock full of silt and debris."
North end of Anaura bay, the homes are far worse. Most homes have been swimming in water due to no drains down there and the area is situated between hills and sand dunes.
The locals there have also been without power for the last couple of days.
There have been rescue efforts made by the locals.
"The local men cleared an elderly's driveway due to a slip so that they could deal with flooding in her home. Another kuia is also isolating at home with COVID and we have been providing her with hot meals," said Ngata-Gibson.
Locals also cleared the roads into Anaura bay on Thursday, as half a dozen slips blocked access to the main road and to state highway 35.
The main concerns though for Ngata-Gibson now is there is no more heavy rain and that there will be a window of fine weather to help with cleanup efforts in the coming days and weeks.
She wants those whānau who are thinking of helping with the clean-up, to be mindful of COVID and to be tested first before coming out.
