'Anti-social behaviour' - Napier supermarkets waiting eagerly for shelves to be restocked
Gabrielle
Gabrielle

'Anti-social behaviour' - Napier supermarkets waiting eagerly for shelves to be restocked

Anxiety is building among people in Napier as the struggle to get supplies into the city continues.

There are thousands without power, food supplies are limited, rubbish and waste are piling up, and communications are still a bit of a nightmare. 

Thousands are still unaccounted for, and officials are preparing for the death toll to rise

Speaking with Lloyd Burr on Friday afternoon, Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise said worry is building among people.

"People are getting incredibly anxious now. We are concerned about community safety and security throughout the city," Wise said.

"It's a challenging time, that's for sure."

She told Burr she has heard of people fighting over food in supermarkets, with people paranoid they won't be able to feed their families.

"The fact that our supermarket shelves have become very empty inevitably leads to anti-social behaviour," Wise said.

"We have had some altercations in our supermarkets."

However, Wise said the road links between Napier and Hastings are open and emergency services are trucking in food and fuel which should restock supermarkets soon.

"We now have trucks able to come into the city with much-needed supplies of food and fuel, etc."

Listen to the full interview between Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise and Lloyd Burr above.

You can also download the full interview on the Lloyd Burr Live podcast, and listen on the go. 

Download the rova app on apple or android to listen to this podcast on the go, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.