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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20TH 2024 NEWSLETTER 10WHĀNAU AT THE CENTREWhānau will remain at the centre of Wairoa’s cyclone recovery – although background changes are underway.In the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, the Wairoa Recovery Office was initially stood up for 12 months. Now, the work of the Recovery Office will slowly be transitioned into the daily work of the Wairoa District Council.Council Chief Executive Kitea Tipuna said throughout the recovery period, the Council has tried to constantly assess the need and provide responses where necessary. “It’s important our recovery approach continues to meet whānau needs while also being managed in the most efficient way possible. A lot has changed over the past year, people’s needs are different, and we need to pivot to meet these changing requirements.”The Wairoa Recovery Office will continue to operate from the Wairoa airport base until the end of June. Wairoa Recovery Manager Benita Tahuri concluded her fixed term role as Recovery Manager, and Council’s Group Manager Finance and Corporate Support, Gary Borg, will take the lead as local Recovery Manager for Wairoa.The recovery team will slowly be transitioned as work is absorbed by the Council.Mr Tipuna acknowledged there is still a lot of need within the community, and the changes do not signal that whānau are on their own. Anyone who needs any assistance regarding Cyclone Gabrielle should please contact the Recovery Office.My time as the Wairoa Recovery Manager has reached its conclusion. While the path to healing remains extensive for many of our whānau, kua pau katoa te hau o tēnei pononga. I extend my deepest gratitude to all of you. It has been a privilege to serve in this capacity, and I assure you that I have given my utmost effort in a role often shrouded in uncertainty, navigating through complex challenges and obstacles. Always, I have been laser-focused and prioritised our whānau wellbeing and setting up a foundation for Recovery moving forward. I want to thank the Wairoa Recovery team. I am so proud of you all. You are inspiring in your pursuit and drive to ensure we all do the best for our whānau and clear the way forward. I have so much to say, but the words fail me. Tears well up, and I cannot speak. My love and appreciation go out to you all. Remember, we may be down, but we will never be beaten. Heads up, spirits high. Arohanui BenitaKUA HURI TE KEI O TAKU WAKA KI TE WĀ KAINGA

WHĀNAU-CENTRED APPROACH TO RECOVERY“Nōku te whakamiharo, nōku anō te honore. It has been a privilege and honour to be working in Recovery on behalf of our community,” says Recovery Manager Benita Tahuri.“My heart has always been with the people and navigating the many barriers that exist in order to get access to support. We have seen a lot of suffering over the past year, and we also know that everyone has done their best despite the traumatic experiences we have been through as a community.“The approach to managing recovery has been based around whānau, compassion and supporting the rebuild. Getting whānau back into their homes has been the priority, and while there is still a way to go, we are making progress with nearly 100 placards now removed from homes and 100 yellow stickered properties to go to go.”The Wairoa Recovery Office will continue to operate from the Wairoa airport until the end of June but will be transitioning into day-to-day Wairoa District Council services over the next couple of months.Benita has completed her original one-year contract and is taking a break to consider possibilities moving forward.Wairoa Recovery Manager Benita Tahuri completed her contract in mid-March. She is pictured at her farewell with Wairoa Mayor Craig Little and Deputy Mayor Denise Eaglesome-Karekare.STATUS OF STICKERED HOMESPeak numbers were reached around March 8th 2023 then on November 8th 2023 a significant rain/flood event in the Mahia/Nuhaka area resulted in a further 16 Residential Yellow Placards & 2 Red Residential Placards.93PLACARDS REMOVEDYELLOW100YELLOW146MARCH 8TH 2023PEAKMARCH 19TH 2024NOWYELLOW16NOVEMBER 8TH 2023EVENTRED3RED2MARCH 8TH 2023PEAKMARCH 19TH 2024NOWRED2NOVEMBER 8TH 2023EVENTWHITE198MARCH 8TH 2023PEAKWHITE162MARCH 19TH 2024NOW

FLOOD MITIGATION URGENCY RECOGNISEDWairoa will find a solution for future flood protection, but it must be the right decision and not rushed, says Wairoa Mayor Craig Little.“The urgency around progressing flood mitigation options for Wairoa is acknowledged, but it is too important just to tick the boxes in order to make a quick decision,” says Mr Little.Wairoa’s Flood Protection Stakeholder Group members continue to work through critical flood mitigation options, with minimising cultural impact a key consideration.Mr Little said while the $70 million earmarked by the government for flood mitigation for Wairoa has a specific brief of shifting Wairoa’s 627 Land Category 2A properties to 2C and in the future Land Category 1, a holistic approach is also needed.“The solution may be raising houses along with a spillway or stop bank. We need to consider all the effects of any decision-making. Some people’s homes and properties will be impacted by flood protection work, and we need to consider the effects this will have on people’s lives. This isn’t just about putting up a stop bank or digging a spillway, the ramifications on our communities and people are huge, and we need to get it right. If we don’t get it right, we could create bigger problems than we already have.“We know it is frustrating to remain in Land Category 2A while the flood protection options are being worked through. We are committed to a solution and have asked the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council to move us to 2C to give certainty to our community and take the pressure off rushing flood protection decisions. It is unbelievable we are still sitting in limbo in 2A, and I will continue to lobby to get us shifted to 2C.”The stakeholder group has also asked for a global approach to Wairoa’s flood mitigation.“While the model needs to work from an engineering hydrological perspective, it also needs to work from a community perspective with the least impact on our whānau while offering the best protection possible. We must also acknowledge that we will never control Mother Nature, and flood prevention is not a silver bullet - but we can try to protect ourselves to the best of our ability.”While engineered options are the driver behind flood protection, the group is also mindful of the impact of contributing factors such as the Wairoa River mouth management, slash/woody debris, the railway bridge, hydroelectric generating stations, river bank maintenance, siltation and the need for dredging and how each of these inputs may be minimal on their own, but they culminate to add to the risk of river flooding and need to be considered as part of the overall protection plan. Discussions have also stressed improving the operational management process around the Wairoa River mouth to maintain an optimal position. Group chairman Lawrence Yule said there is a need to capture local knowledge around the bar and preserve that for future generations to support robust processes. He described river mouth management as an art, not a science, and a dynamic situation where people on the ground need to use their experience around weather, tide management, currents and river height. There is also acknowledgment from the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council that while river mouth management won’t solve flood issues, the bar does need to be proactively managed with local input and a short-term decision-making ability.Meanwhile, the stakeholder group also had a presentation by the Ministry for Environment on the proposed Order in Council (OiC). Developed under legislation for all HB flood mitigation, the OiC aims to add more flexibility to the response, allowing quick regulatory changes to respond to issues as they arise. Benefits of the OiC for Wairoa would involve speeding up the resource consents process to achieve the timeline of having flood protection completed in four years. BACKGROUNDFollowing Cyclone Gabrielle, the Government earmarked $70 million for Wairoa to develop flood mitigation to a 1:100-year level to shift Wairoa’s 627 Category 2A properties to Category 2C and, in future, Category 1.A Hawke’s Bay Regional Council engineering team has developed models based on community discussions, thoughts, ideas, and river data with options based on science, hydrology, and computer-generated modelling. These options are being considered by the Wairoa Stakeholder group and will be shared with the community for further engagement and feedback.The stakeholder group represents a broad range of individuals and/or entities with a vested interest in the decisions and outcomes of the Wairoa River protection work. The purpose of stakeholders is typically to gather diverse perspectives, discuss various options and make informed decisions that benefit the whole Wairoa district through river protection work.Final stakeholder and community preferences will then go to the Tripartite Partners, comprising Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust and Wairoa District Council, with the final decision resting with the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council as the authority responsible for flood protection.Once confirmation is received that construction of flood protection for Wairoa will proceed, it is expected to take affected properties from Category 2A to 2C, and in future, Category 1. A flood protection scheme will assist in managing future severe weather events, providing certainty for homeowners and businesses. It will also allow whānau to stay in their communities and prevent properties from falling under Category 3 and the voluntary buy-out programme.

SUPPORTING WHĀNAU REBUILD NEEDSGetting whānau back into their homes remains the focus of the Wairoa Recovery Office.To help reach this aspiration, a team of helpers from the Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints Church are in town to help with the rebuild.The tradies have a goal to rebuild five homes with all materials and labour costs covered by the generosity of the Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints Humanitarian South Pacific arm, which provides relief and development projects for humanitarian purposes in countries all over the world.The five houses selected for rebuilding all have differing requirements and have specifically been chosen to use as a pilot to develop costs and project scope.The Wairoa Recovery team is grateful for the church’s support and the significance the work will have on the lives of local whānau. “We are delighted that after an international process and support from the Church the rebuild completely funded by the church is about to begin.”A partnership between local enablers and the Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints Church will see five Wairoa flood-affected homes rebuilt. Discussions for the rebuilds began with a hui in August last year which was attended by the following people. Pictured from left, First Counsellor Wairoa Bishop William McRoberts, Wairoa Ward Bishop Andrew Scotson, President Peter Meyers, Wairoa Recovery Manager Benita Tahuri, Enabled Wairoa Inc. Shelley Smith, Wairoa Mayor Craig Little, Chair of Wairoa Taiwhenua Nigel How, Gisborne Stake President Maui Aben, Elder Jared Ormsby.Maintaining continuity while meeting changing demands is key to the Wairoa Recovery Office’s future delivery of services.Council’s Group Manager Finance and Corporate Support, Gary Borg, is stepping into the Wairoa Recovery Manager role as part of a transition to bring the recovery services within the Council’s day-to-day business.Mr Borg said while Cyclone Gabrielle has a long tail and true recovery could be a generation away, the needs of today, compared to a year ago, have changed a lot. “It is important that we constantly review the needs of, and within, our community so we can adapt and work to provide, and advocate, for the best solutions.Mr Borg has been with the Council for seven years and looks forward to working with the recovery team and the community to try and rebuild from the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle.

WOODY DEBRIS BURNINGKIWIRAIL PUTTING NAPIER -WAIROA LINE OPTIONS TO GOVERNMENTThe Hawke’s Bay Silt and Debris Recovery Taskforce planned and monitored burning of woody debris is continuing.Permitted burning of stacked debris will soon take place at Whakamahi Beach – weather dependent.FENZ permits and firecom communications will accompany all burns.Liaison has taken place with stakeholders and tangata whenua.The burning will be carried out by experienced practitioners who have been trained in large fire techniques and have appropriate plant and safety equipment on site.The burning process at Whakamahi Beach is expected to take up to a month.KiwiRail is moving ahead with plans that could see a reopening of the Napier-Wairoa line – if it gets Government approval.The line suffered more than 400 damage sites in the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and other weather events. It is understood Kiwirail is working on detailed costings and options which it expects to present to the Government for its consideration in the coming months.Kiwirail has said it needs to apply for funding for repairs to reopen the line, and it needs Government approval.The line was mothballed in 2012, and reopened with the assistance of $5 million from the Provincial Growth Fund, announced in early 2018 by then by Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones, with the intention of opening the line to what was called a “wall of timber” from the forests of Northern Hawke’s Bay to the Port of Napier.Another washout delayed the project, with the line being reopened in June 2019 and the first logging trains moving in January 2020. Only a handful of trips occurred before being stopped because of the COVID-19 impact on the forestry industry.GIVING BACK TO YOURSELFCyclone Gabrielle has a long tail, especially for those whānau who are not yet back in their homes, living at home or in a pod while rebuilding occurs or who have extra people staying with them.Sometimes it is great to just get away from it all and have a rest and a reset. This time for respite and reflection can be different for everyone.The Wairoa Recovery Office has launched a respite project to support local people impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. The project recognises that the road to recovery is a long one and can be time of frustration.Red cross defines four phases of psychosocial impact following a disaster: • Heroic phase: Immediate response without counting the costs. • Honeymoon phase: Optimism as help arrives. • Disillusionment phase: Frustration over prolonged recovery, lasting from weeks to years, potentially extended by secondary stressors. • Adaptation: Long-term process, adapting to a changed reality with no clear endpoint. Wairoa is currently in the disillusionment phase as people wait for their homes to be repaired while there are limited supports available. The respite project is whānau-led with Wairoa Recovery Office kaimanaaki listening to each whānau to understand what respite looks like for them. For some, it may be that they haven’t been able to have family visit their home because it is too damaged, so respite might be a visit to Lake Waikaremoana as a whānau with time together sitting around a table and in nature. For others, it may be someone coming in to help care for others within your home.If you feel a need to take a break and get away from the never-ending challenges, please contact the Recovery Office, where the kaimanaaki can help you with a respite plan.The respite opportunity is particularly for flood-affected whānau in yellow-placarded homes.Controlled woody debris burning at Taylor’s Bay, Mahia, earlier this year.

HAVE YOUR SAY IN FUTURE OF STATE HIGHWAY ROADING NETWORKTransport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) is inviting locals to learn more about the post-Cyclone Gabrielle recovery and rebuild.TREC is an alliance set up to plan, design and manage the delivery of much of the recovery and rebuild work needed on the state highway and rail networks along the East Coast in partnership with local contractors and suppliers.Since July when TREC was created, the focus has been on recovery work to restore access to parts of the State Highway network. Across Hawke’s Bay, more than 11 recovery sites have been completed, from a total of 156. A further 33 are in construction and 53 in design. Across Tairāwhiti, more than 120 recovery sites have been completed, from a total of 264. A further 25 are in construction and 78 in design. The recovery work will continue until the end of the year.TREC is hosting a series of community drop-in sessions for local communities to get to know more about TREC’s ongoing recovery work, to meet the team and share local knowledge. They will be asking people for their views and feedback on potential long-term rebuild projects, including at Eskdale at the intersection of SH2 and SH5 Napier-Taupō Road, SH2 at Devil’s Elbow and resilience sites being investigated on State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Gisborne.At the same time, they will be providing a progress update on the SH2 Waikare Gorge project.These initial projects are a key focus because they’re all critically important parts of the network to keep freight moving and communities connected, especially in emergencies.TREC invites as many people as possible to have their say on the network. People who can’t make the drop-in sessions are invited to have their say via an online questionnaire (open from 18 March to 16 April) on the TREC webpage of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.There will be more opportunities to share your views on rebuilding work and help shape the future of the East Coast state highway network.STRETCH OF SH2 NORTH OF NAPIER CLOSING OVERNIGHT FOR RECOVERY WORKSA stretch of State Highway 2 between Whirinaki and Tutira will be closed for two nights next month for recovery work at three different sites.The road, between Pan Pac Whirinaki and Tutira Store, will be closed overnight on Monday 8 April and Tuesday 9 April. The road will close each night at 9pm and reopen at 5am the following day.The overnight work is weather dependent. If weather delays the work, contingency dates are scheduled for Wednesday 10 April and Thursday 11 April.Over the two nights, crews will focus on rock removal at Devil’s Elbow; installing a new culvert at Tongoio Falls and asphalting at Te Ngarue Stream Bridge.The worksites are too narrow for one lane closure and there is no viable detour. A full road closure will be in place at the times above so crews can complete the work as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible.Details of the community drop-in sessions are as follows:DATE TIME LOCATION VENUEMonday 25 March From 4 to 6pm NŪHAKA Kahungunu Marae – Wharekai 6 Mataira Street, NūhakaTuesday 26 March From 5 to 7pm WAIROA Function Room - Wairoa Community Centre, 33 Marine Parade, Wairoa Monday 8 April From 5 to 7pm GISBORNE Midway Surf Lifesaving Club – Community Hub, 40 Centennial Marine Parade, Gisborne

Flood-impacted people who are insured need to be aware of some of the processes around insurance payouts.For people who have a mortgage on their homes, the bank has the right to receive the insurance payout to the amount on the home loan.This means, once an insurance claim has been settled and an agreement reached, a lump sum of the payout could go directly to the bank to pay off any loan on a property. There are also a few terms that can be confusing. A mortgage is the ‘ownership’ the bank has over the title of a property as part of a loan. The loan is the money that you borrow from the bank. So, even though your insurance payment may be used to pay off your loan, the bank may still hold a mortgage using your property as security. Each bank has a slightly different process, and the key is to work with your bank so you are aware of what will occur. Paying off your house loan does not stop you from drawing down a new loan to pay for repairs for your property – depending on the work that is required and the security held over the property. If you are unsure about how insurance payouts work, particularly regarding banks , mortgages and loans, please contact the Recovery Office and we can put you in touch with the right professional people to offer advice.INSURANCE CLAIM PAYOUTSRED CROSS FUNDING TRANSFORMATIONALRed Cross funding has been transformational for Wairoa’s flood-impacted whānau.Following the devastating weather events of January and February 2023, the New Zealand Red Cross launched the New Zealand Disaster Fund to help people and communities affected by the disasters. Through the donations it receives, the Red Cross pledged over $1 million to help repair flood-damaged homes in the Wairoa area. Funding is delivered via plumbing and electrical packages for septic tank cleaning, reticulation plumbing, reinstatement of home heating and essential electrical and bathroom repairs and also Home Bundles, which include home essentials from kitchen appliances to bedding and furniture. Over the past year, the Wairoa Recovery team has been working with Red Cross Gisborne-based representative Phil Parker. Phil has retired, and Wairoa’s Red Cross dealings have now switched to the Hawke’s Bay office.The recovery team extends a huge thank you to Phil for his compassion and understanding in supporting the Wairoa people through his Red Cross role.Locally, more than 50 whānau are registered to receive the Red Cross Home Bundles, and deliveries are rolling out as houses are nearing completion. For more information, contact the Recovery Office.Pictured are Hawkes Bay-based Red Cross cyclone recovery team members Paea Wilson and Crystal Kavana with Wairoa kaimanaaki Rupene Amato and former Recovery Manager Benita Tahuri.Head to www.wairoarecovery.co.nz for up-to-date recovery information, stories, newsletters and a whole lot more.Please feel free to send us any of your cyclone-related pics and videos and we will share on on our webpage.CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUTo get in touch please email recovery@wairoadc.govt.nzPlease share your Cyclone Gabrielle photos and videos with us. We would also really like to hear your stories.NIWA DATA SHOWS SIGNIFICANCE OF CYCLONE GABRIELLE FLOODINGScientific analysis of Cyclone Gabrielle’s flooding has underlined the extraordinary magnitude of the event.The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) undertook analysis of the flood flows that occurred at 20 river gauge sites across Hawke’s Bay during Cyclone Gabrielle. The work was funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).Pre-Gabrielle, the probability of a flood this size occurring in a given year, known as an Annual Recurrence Interval (ARI), was as high as a one in 1,000-year event at some river sites, according to NIWA’s modelling. Post-Gabrielle, that probability has changed to a one in 550-year event – meaning the cyclone has changed the standard going forward.At 13 of the 20 sites, it was deemed the largest flood on record.NIWA’s Principal Scientist-Natural Hazards and Hydrodynamics Dr Emily Lane says the work was to understand Cyclone Gabrielle’s flooding in the context of what was previously known about flood flow values in the region.“This event reset the scale for flooding in Hawke’s Bay. It’s vital we factor this into our understanding of future flood hazards.”Flood events occur randomly, and so just because a large flood with a high ARI has just occurred, there is no guarantee that there will not be another one in the near future, she says.Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Chair Hinewai Ormsby says she welcomes the report and its data is one piece of the puzzle to inform our flood review and scheme reviews.“The modelling reinforces that the cyclone flooding was largely unprecedented. The sheer volume of the cyclone’s flooding and its impacts on flood mitigation infrastructure could be compared to having a 100-bed hospital where suddenly 500 patients turn up.”“This report is incredibly valuable in understanding ecosystem dynamics and managing flood risk in a world that is changing around us. It is an essential first step, but not the only step in informing the Regional Council in its development of future flood resilience designs and mitigations.”The Regional Council worked with NIWA and provided regional expertise and understanding of the river’s dynamics, including long-term data and knowledge of historic flood levels.WAIROA RECOVERYFOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT US• Online form via WDC website: www.wairoadc.govt.nz/contact-us/customer-service-request• Call free 0508 YROA4U or 0508 976248• Email recovery@wairoadc.govt.nz• In-person at the Recovery Team Office at the Wairoa Airport (end of Airport Road) our office hours are Monday to Friday 10am-2pm.• Recovery Website www.wairoarecovery.co.nzDisclaimer: The Wairoa Recovery team has made every effort to ensure that this information is as up-to-date and accurate as possible. We acknowledge this is a rapidly changing environment and the information provided should be used for general purposes only. We encourage people to seek additional information before making any business, legal or other decisions. If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us at recovery@wairoadc.govt.nz.