Midday Report Podcast Options

12:16 PM.As the waters recede, and some connections are restored, we're learning more about how quickly floodwaters rose and hearing about the courage of those who went to help.

Max Towle heard from Army… Read more Audio

12:11 PM.Gisborne's water supply has failed.

A ban is now in force and residents are being told to stop using water immediately.

Tairāwhiti Emergency Management group controller Ben Green spoke to Max Towle.

12:52 PM.There are miraculous tales of survival coming out of Turkey. 

One confused woman who survived under the rubble for about 230 hours asked her rescuers, "what day is it?"

But the world they are… Read more Audio

12:47 PM.When the floodwaters rose south of Napier in Waiohiki, the flow was so fast and deep it swept cars right through homes.

160 people gathered at the local marae where they were looked after, as waters… Read more Audio

12:42 PM.The massive operation to reach people continues.

Police are working through about 3000 reports of people who can't be contacted, but they stress some of those may be multiple reports about the same… Read more Audio

12:16 PM.In Tairāwhiti many roads are impassable - they've been washed away, or covered by slips, silt and water. 

Food supplies are limited and residents are asked to conserve water.

Māni Dunlop spoke to… Read more Audio

12:12 PM.Supplies are on the way to the isolated district of Wairoa, after fears that food and drinking water would run out.

But communications are mostly still down and people have been struggling to reach… Read more Audio

12:11 PM.More bad weather is bearing down on already devastated communities today, as rescues and evacuations continue.

MetService has issued heavy rain warnings for Wairarapa where many roads are impassable… Read more Audio

12:49 PM.The Government is providing an initial four million dollars in funding support for farmers and growers affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

It would be used to help support rural communities in regions… Read more Audio

12:45 PM.A body has been found by searchers looking for a missing firefighter under a collapsed house in Muriwai.

It's been more than 24 hours since Dave van Zwananberg went missing beneath the wreckage.

A… Read more Audio

12:42 PM.Tairāwhiti's connections to the outside world are severed - power is patchy, a fibre optic cable is down - affecting Internet and phone services; while many roads and bridges are damaged and unusable.

12:26 PM.Wairoa's mayor Craig Little has made contact, saying the town's been hit by the most catastrophic weather event in living memory. 

He says there's been severe river flooding after the water rose at… Read more Audio

12:13 PM.Evacuations continue in Hawke's Bay.

Six army trucks have arrived at the Hastings Sports Centres full of rescued people.

RNZ's reporter on the ground Lauren Crimp told Max Towle there were about 90… Read more Audio

12:12 PM.The devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle is becoming clearer, but there are communities that are still isolated.

Two have died in Hawke's Bay, and Fire and Emergency has confirmed a body has been found… Read more Audio