Residents at the southern end of Pigeon Valley, evacuated in the Nelson area bush fires, were allowed to return home this morning.
That leaves 94 properties still evacuated.
Photo: Tracy Neal / RNZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited the region today to meet locals and look at what additional government support was needed, as fires give way to drought.
While many Wakefield residents have gone home, and the owners of about 74 properties in south Pigeon Valley went home this morning, there was still about 370 people from 138 properties still waiting – mostly from the Redwood Valley area.
Civil Defence controller Roger Ball said they were working every minute of every day to get people back home.
"Last night we were able to announce another 74 properties – about 200 people – were allowed back in, and teams are working on the other valley areas."
Mr Randle said they had been relieved to find no damage to their property, and they were grateful to be back home.
Mr Ball said the situation was improving but people needed to plan to be out of their homes until the weekend.
Ms Ardern said it was not just a service for people who accessed Work and Income, but for anyone who needed help as a result of the fire.
Ms Ardern said it would add an additional $100,000 to the Mayoral Relief Fund, on top of the $70,000 already provided.