Cyclone Gabrielle's fury was felt on Auckland's west coast six months ago - and many people are still facing unanswered questions about the fate of their homes.
With insurance cover for temporary accommodation running out, they're getting desperate for answers.
Muriwai firefighters rescued Rosa Downes' mother just as a landslip trapped and killed two of their colleagues next door.
"They had to carry her down and just as they got to the bottom of the driveway there, the slip came down so the neighbour's house fell at that moment and pushed her over the road," Downes said. "They both ended up at the lodge here which was all washed out."
Incredibly, the house remains intact but is deteriorating.
"It's my home, it's our home, it's my mum's home of 40 years," Downes said.
But she's been told: Go up that driveway and face a fine of $200,000.
"It's just in limbo, and we've just been stagnant and waiting the whole time, yeah, we've got to have some movement," Downes said.
The family's now renting - with mum.
"She never felt so ungrounded, she just wanted to be at home. We've stopped her now but she just wants to get up sit on her couch, have the comfort of home," Downes said.
Ungrounded - like nearly a third of Muriwai's residents
Across one road was a river of brown water so strong it was hitting a car that was parked there and creating a wave over the top and flooding down into people's sections below.
Mike Hibbert is one of the hundreds of displaced residents.
"Pretty traumatic, had to wake up the kids, you know, pull them out of bed, find the dogs, find the cat, get them into the car and get out," he said.
With little progress, they say they've become a political football.
"We are still stressed out about what comes next. You know, the Government and the council are scrabbling, fighting over who's going to pay for what."
It's a similar scene in Karekare with homes shunted downhill, resting at crazy angles, entangled with trees. At least a dozen homes are red-stickered.
In Muriwai, 96 homes are red-stickered.
The events of six months ago are being marked with the creation of sand art at the beach, a community service, and a catch-up at the surf club. It comes at a time of transition for the people of Muriwai.
Most insurance companies have paid for people to live elsewhere for six months but that time is running out. On the plus side, they've been told they should be told the fate of their homes in weeks.
"We're really bewildered about why it's taken so long to get to where we are," Hibbert said.
Decisions are imminent but no one yet knows if Auckland's west coast will ever return to being that rugged but vibrant destination it was.
