Latest news#
Hawke’s Bay Councils finalise terms of cost-sharing agreement with the Government#
The Government welcomed region-wide support in Hawke’s Bay for the agreement to share costs with councils on the voluntary buy out Category 3 residential properties.
The agreement outlines how some of the most urgent cyclone recovery costs for Hawke’s Bay will be shared between central and local government. Hawke’s Bay’s five councils have confirmed the terms of the agreement worth up to $556 million, subject to consultation with communities.
The cost-sharing agreement will see Councils with Category 3 residential properties and central Government adopting a 50/50 cost-sharing approach to the voluntary buyout of Category 3 residential properties within their respective districts, with the Government contributing up to an estimated $92.5 million. Government and Council contributions will be net of any insurance proceeds.
The full $556 million agreement also includes $203.5 million toward flood protection for the region. Subject to design, interest in land, and ability to build, the proposed flood protection works will benefit areas that are currently Category 2, from Wairoa to Pōrangahau. These include key sites across the Hastings district such as Pakowhai, Ōmahu, Waiohiki, and Havelock North.
In addition, funding will enable upgrades to specific pump stations and telemetry across the network. This includes $70 million specifically earmarked for a fully funded flood protection scheme for Wairoa.
The remaining $260 million will go toward specific transport infrastructure projects and programmes, including the Redclyffe Bridge replacement, the Puketapu, Matapiro and Aropauanui Bridge works in Hastings, Te Reinga Bridge works in Wairoa and critical roading recovery projects in Central Hawke’s Bay. Further funding provisions include culvert replacements, as well as additional support for transport resilience and repair initiatives across the region.
Negotiations with Auckland and Tairāwhiti on cost sharing arrangements are progressing well, and the Government hopes to have an agreement for those regions shortly.
Invitation to whenua Māori landowners and Trustees in Tangoio and surrounding areas#
The Cyclone Recovery Unit has issued a public notice inviting trustees, landowners and residents of Category 3 whenua Māori land blocks in Tangoio and surrounding areas to attend online and in-person discussions about their cyclone-affected whenua and residential dwellings.
Appointments can be made for discussions from 9 August to 17 August. Further meetings may be called after that. The whenua Māori land blocks are:
Tangoio South: 4X; No 12B; No 10; No 9C, 31, 29, No 8A, 2X, 2G; No 1 Roadline; No 2C; No 2B; No 2 Roadline; No 1 F; No 1E; 1X; No 1A; 9X; 27J5A; 27 L; No 27 A
Pakuratahi: 1B4A No 1
Petane: Part Lot 7 Deposited Plan 3351 and Part Lot 8 Deposited Plan 3351
Eskdale: Lot 9 and Lot 12 Deposited Plan 3351, Lot 4-5 Deposited Plan 3354, Lot 2 Deposited Plan 2843, and Lot 1 Deposited Plan 2437
The discussions will help the Unit understand the cyclone impact on each land block, including residential homes on the block, and will ensure support options for affected owners and whānau are appropriate.
Dates and times can be found here. The Unit urges the affected parties to RSVP for a meeting by emailing [email protected] with the date and time (30 mins) they are available.
Government takes action on East Coast land use report#
The Government is backing a comprehensive package of action around land use in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne and Wairoa. The package responds to the findings of the Ministerial Inquiry into the devastating East Coast weather events of 2023.
The package includes assistance for clearing woody debris, support for Gisborne District Council on land use management, improved national guidance on forestry management, including on forestry slash, and working to strengthen regional partnerships.
Major new investment to repair cyclone-affected roads#
The Government announced it’s providing a further $567 million to Waka Kotahi for immediate works on state highways in Tairāwhiti, Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, Coromandel and Northland.
The funding comes from the $6 billion National Resilience Plan announced in May’s Budget. The investment is on top of the $525 million already provided to Waka Kotahi in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone.
Auckland’s storm recovery and resilience consultation begins#
Throughout August, Aucklanders are invited to provide feedback on plans for major investment in Tāmaki Makaurau to help recover from the extreme weather events that took a major toll on the region in 2023.
The consultation includes, four weeks of engagement so Auckland Council can hear from Aucklanders on two programmes:
- The Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Plan – to understand Aucklanders’ experiences of extreme weather earlier this year, and their needs and aspirations for recovery and resilience.
- Making Space for Water – to comment on a series of stormwater projects that will reduce future flood risk.
Aucklanders can have their say online or in person in community drop-in sessions or through the Have Your Say website.
The results of this public engagement will be reported back to the council’s Governing Body in September and will be used to inform the final shape of both programmes.
Support from Red Cross for Wairoa#
The Red Cross have committed $125,116 to help whānau in Wairoa restore their flood-affected homes to a safe and liveable standard.
This support assists people with septic tank cleaning, reticulation plumbing, reinstatement of home heating and essential electrical and bathroom repairs.
To date, the Red Cross has completed 50 plumbing/electric assessments and carried out around 30 repair jobs.
Visit the New Zealand Red Cross Disaster Fund hub to find out what support is available to communities and what support has been provided.
Cyclone Gabrielle Welfare Support Grant closes in 1-month#
The Cyclone Gabrielle Welfare Support Grant intended to reimburse certain emergency costs that have already been incurred by marae, iwi, and recognised community organisations to care for people who were affected, displaced, or isolated during the state of national emergency closes on the 31st of August 2023.
Updates across government#
Ministry for Primary Industries#
Hawke’s Bay
The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) Farmer Connect Recovery event held in Hastings on 21 July was a huge success despite bad weather. Over 250 farmers and their families each received a fencing materials bundle. They shared free kai and gathered flood recovery information from the more than 20 industry and support agencies present. Thirteen tonnes of wire, 20,000 posts, and 25,000 battens were donated to the event, the equivalent of 75-100 kilometres of fencing materials.
Animal Welfare
Emergency Management is supporting three events run by Companion Animals New Zealand for microchipping horses – to help improve readiness and reduce the impact of emergencies on equine owners and their animals in future adverse events. The core objective is to reunite lost animals with their owners easily in any future adverse events.
Waka Kotahi#
- After a 10-day closure, the cyclone damaged Hikuwai no.1 bridge on State Highway 35 north of Gisborne, has been completely dismantled and removed. The road was reopened at 5am 27 July 2023.
- State Highway 25 temporary speed limit changes have been approved and we are currently mobilising to implement them. This is expected to take approx. 6 weeks to complete, with installation commencing Friday 11 August.