The Hawke's Bay Regional Council says the $500 million cyclone recovery package agreed with the Government is the first step to getting Hawke's Bay back on its feet.
The Council faces major work to repair damaged stopbanks, drains overwhelmed by silt, and significant land damage including landslides and erosion across farmland in many areas.
Also on the agenda is new work such as spillways to prevent future catastrophic flooding.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council Chair Hinewai Ormsby spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.