Ministerial Statements — Cyclone Gita—Impacts

on behalf of the Minister of Civil Defence: I wish to make a ministerial statement on behalf of the Minister of Civil Defence and all members of the coalition Government on the effects of ex-tropical Cyclone Gita. I wish to—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Just to make it absolutely clear: the Minister wishes to make a ministerial statement. That’s all she needs to say. If you want to say it’s on behalf of, that’s fine, but it’s one Minister making it, not the entire Government.

I wish to inform the House that severe weather associated with Cyclone Gita occurred across many areas of the upper South Island and lower North Island last night and will continue throughout today. The impacts of this weather event have been felt mainly in the regions of Nelson-Tasman, Taranaki, West Coast, Manawatū-Wanganui, Canterbury, and Wellington, with high winds, flooding, and slips occurring in a number of districts. Although the weather is easing, the effects are still being felt as the cyclone moves slowly across the country, including in South Canterbury and Otago, which are currently experiencing heavy rain and even snow in some areas.

Today, the Minister of Civil Defence, Kris Faafoi; the MP for West Coast – Tasman, Damien O’Connor; and the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, Sarah Stuart-Black, will be visiting some of the affected areas in Hokitika, Nelson, Westport, and Greymouth.

Yesterday, seven states of local emergency were declared in Christchurch City, Buller district, Westland district, Grey district, and Selwyn district, as well as the Nelson-Tasman group and the Taranaki group. Many roads were closed due to the severe weather and remain closed today, including the State highway north and south of Kaikōura. A number of people in the Nelson-Tasman, Selwyn, Westland, and Buller districts spent the night in emergency accommodation. Thankfully, most will be able to return home today.

Approximately 5,000 residents and 1,000 tourists in the Golden Bay area are isolated due to slips on the Tākaka Hill road. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) is currently assessing the damage to the road, but it is unclear when the road will be operational. The NZTA is doing everything it can to restore the route, although this may take several days.

Thousands of homes across Taranaki were affected by power and water supply outages overnight, and work is being done as quickly as possible to restore these services.

As the weather has improved, most states of local emergency have now been lifted. As at 1 p.m. today, states of local emergency remain in place in Selwyn district, New Plymouth district, and the Nelson-Tasman group. The next few days will be about assessing the damage across affected regions. The main points of focus will be on the clean-up and recovery, doing detailed damage assessment, including aerial reconnaissance, and supporting communities and travellers who are isolated or affected.

The Government has been monitoring the situation throughout, and providing support and advice to the local responses across the country. A number of agencies are working together to manage the response and recovery from this event including local government, the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the New Zealand Defence Force, and the New Zealand Police. People can keep themselves up to date with the latest news through the civil defence emergency management groups’ social media and websites and the websites of MetService and the New Zealand Transport Agency.

I know you will join me in expressing that our thoughts are with all of those affected by this emergency. I am pleased to see that local authorities and civil defence emergency management groups were well prepared for this event, and I acknowledge their efforts and their dedication. Communities have also responded brilliantly. It was great that so many people took steps to keep themselves and their families safe and listened to the official advice that was given.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. As the National Party spokesperson for civil defence, I’ve watched closely as New Zealand has prepared for the coming of ex - Cyclone Gita over the past few days. It has been encouraging to see councils and Government working together in order to support their communities and facilitate aid where necessary. I would like to acknowledge councils and mayors who were proactive in declaring a state of emergency. However, I am sure that some will reflect on that decision-making process over the next few months and the wisdom of that declaration.

I think, once again, it has become apparent how important it is for all New Zealanders to have a plan in case of emergency and to review those plans on an ongoing basis. There are those who say that the potential of ex - Cyclone Gita was overstated. However, those who’ve had their properties damaged would not agree. For our own safety, we need to take note of the warnings from the professionals, who have access to the most current information. I would like to thank the emergency services, who are, for the main part, volunteers who have left their families and properties to protect others.

While this storm is still active over the lower South Island, for many of the affected areas, the worst has passed and the clean-up is just getting under way. I hope we can continue to support our communities with their recovery efforts. All our thoughts are with those who have been affected by this event.

Tēnā koe, Mr Speaker. Tēnā koutou e Te Whare. On behalf of the Green Party, let me just add my support to what the Hon Nanaia Mahuta and MP Stuart Smith have said just now. To those people in Golden Bay, Nelson, Kaikōura, the West Coast, Christchurch, Taranaki, and other parts of the country who have borne the full force of Cyclone Gita, we send our condolences and we hope for a swift recovery. To those who’ve been evacuated from their homes, we hope that you can return soon. And to the people of the emergency services, civil defence, and the Defence Force, we send our thanks and gratitude. As a country we rely on your professionalism, expertise, and experience to pull us through the most trying of times, and once again you’ve carried out your duties admirably. So thank you for that.

Thanks too to the ordinary people who checked on their neighbours and helped out in their communities. It is at times of emergency when we support our neighbours that the strength of our communities and our ability to look out for one another are most clear. The only thing that can counter the strength of a storm like this is the strength of our people and our communities.

The clean-up for weather events like this can take some time, far too long after the wind- and rainswept journalists have left town, and requires communities and local and central government to work together. For that reason, I am very pleased that the Hon Kris Faafoi, our civil defence Minister, is travelling south today to inspect the damage and to offer this Government’s assistance to mayors and officials from affected regions. I would also like to thank the media for helping to keep the public informed during what was a frightening time, particularly those reporters, camera people, and photographers who had to file their stories outside, braving the elements.

It has been a summer of exceptional weather, and I’m informed by MetService scientists that there is now a clear scientific link between extreme weather events like this and climate change. As we face this changing climate together as a country, the spirit of community and care for one another that we see when disaster strikes will become all the more important.

In closing, I’d like to specifically acknowledge the people living in an area where a state of emergency has been declared: Christchurch, Buller District, Grey District, Selwyn, Westland, Tasman, and Taranaki. Our thoughts are with you today.

on behalf of the Minister of Civil Defence: I assure the House that the Government will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and transitions into the recovery stage. Events like this can be distressing and place significant strain on families and communities. I once again commend the actions that have been taken by individuals, local authorities, volunteers, emergency services, and civil defence emergency management groups to prepare for and manage the consequences of this severe weather event.

Finally, I too want to thank, on behalf of the Government, the volunteers and communities of people who support each other in a time of need such as this. Their resilience is our encouragement.