Hawke's Bay Civil Defence's emergency response structure was identified as needing to be "addressed with urgency" more than 18 months before Cyclone Gabrielle smashed through the region.
This week the regional council announced an independent review of the Cyclone Gabrielle response.
But well before the cyclone, another independent review of Hawke's Bay Civil Defence made a raft of recommendations to improve emergency response in the region.
Flood damage as seen from the sky over Tokomaru Bay around the Mangahauini river. Photo: RNZ / Ashleigh McCaull
Lauren Crimp has been looking at the report spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
