Hawke’s Bay’s mayors have received the findings of the Hawke’s Bay Independent Flood Review into Cyclone Gabrielle, and collectively agree this provides an important opportunity to strengthen community and council input into flood protection in Hawke’s Bay.

Commissioned to investigate the circumstances and contributing factors that led to the flooding across the region’s various catchments, the review looks at Regional Council’s flood management schemes and how they performed as well as how the council managed the event, in the days leading up to and during Cyclone Gabrielle.

In acknowledging the extraordinary nature of the event, the review report identifies a long list of specific recommendations to increase the region’s long-term flood resilience.

The mayors agree that these recommendations, along with those identified in the Hawke’s Bay CDEM Review and the Government inquiry into the response to the North Island severe weather events, need to be considered in full, and acted on with urgency.

A key theme throughout the review speaks to the need for regional council to collaborate, engage and be more transparent with communities, councils, mana whenua and other stakeholders.

Wairoa mayor Craig Little said it was a hard-hitting report, and the recommendations needed to be taken seriously.

“We need assurance that the regional council in its present form can deliver on the recommendations.

“Our Wairoa community remains very vulnerable following Cyclone Gabrielle, particularly after being hit by a second flood event last month, affecting another 400 properties, the cause of which is still being reviewed.

The region’s mayors have asked that all councils work together to put in place an oversight structure that provides greater transparency and greater stakeholder engagement over the building of both new flood protection works, and enhancing and managing existing schemes.

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said that with so many of our communities impacted by the cyclone in the Hastings district, it was important that they had confidence and certainty that future flood protection infrastructure would provide them safety. 

This was also the case for the region’s primary sector, which was critical to the local economy and the Heretaunga Plains.

“Our growers and other businesses need that confidence to continue to invest for our region’s future.

“Transparency and engagement around the actions being taken to build greater flood protection is crucial in providing that confidence.”

Napier mayor Kirsten Wise said the release of this report and the conversations it would foster provided a real opportunity to strengthen and reaffirm the regionally coordinated approach that had underpinned the recovery in Hawke’s Bay to date. 

“Flood protection is a big part of our overall recovery and we need to be working collaboratively across councils and other key stakeholders to ensure this is delivered for our communities in a timely and cost effective manner.”

Central Hawke’s Bay mayor Alex Walker noted that communities were still hurting, with many still in the process of rebuilding their homes, businesses and livelihoods.

In Central Hawke’s Bay for example, Pōrangahau was the last remaining community in the whole region to still be in Category 2A and without a viable flood protection solution agreed upon.

“The review picks up the legitimate concerns of our communities of Waipawa and Pōrangahau, which is a relief. The release of this latest review will no doubt trigger a myriad of emotions for people in Hawke’s Bay.”

She said empathy was needed, as well as the creation of space for people to digest and process.

“That said, actions speak louder than words. Ongoing visible progress is the best way to heal this hurt and help our flood-affected communities move forward with their lives.

“I support recommendations that put localism at the heart of how we work together as a team to prepare and protect our communities. We must value local knowledge in all processes from now on and I will be expecting changes to project structures to reflect that.”

24 July 2024

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