Around 40 families evacuated from the South Taranaki township of Waitotara are returning to their homes to begin a massive clean-up.
Helicopters are also flying supplies in to another 30 families isolated by floods in the Waitotara Valley.
Seven people, including three children were flown out on Wednesday after helicopters visited each family.
Bev Raine of the Taranaki District Council says most residents are in good heart despite the devastation wrought by the flooding, which has also cut all communication.
Civil Defence staff in South Taranaki say 23 kilometres of roads into the valley has already been cleared, and it is hoped power and phones will be reconnected by Saturday.
Those people evacuated from Waitotara may have to wait several days before they can return home for good.
The area's Civil Defence Controller, Graham Young says there are real safety concerns with raw sewage flowing around houses, fallen power lines strewn over some properties, and issues of structural instability.
Meanwhile, flood evacuees in Horowhenua are starting the process of working out how they will survive the coming days and weeks.
A recovery centre has been set up at Civil Defence headquarters in Levin and a flood relief fund has been established to help those left with nothing.
Shocked Tangimoana beach residents returned to their Manawatu seaside homes to find some have been ruined by flood water.
Some 150 residents were evacuated on Monday and have spent two nights worrying about their properties.
Officials say more than 40 houses are uninhabitable. Those who can not return to their houses were taken into other homes and pumps are moving water away from low-lying houses.
