Nine To Noon for Friday 17 February 2023

 

09:05 Cyclone Gabrielle coverage continues : Wairoa Mayor Craig Little

We're into day five since Cyclone Gabrielle hit bringing widespread damage to large parts of the North Island. Six people are now known to have died in the storm, but the Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, has warned people to brace for the death toll to rise. Wairoa is one of many areas that has so many challenges ahead and communication is still fractured. Mayor Craig Little talks to Kathryn about his devastated town and the surrounding settlements.

09:15 Cyclone Gabrielle : how Napier is faring 

 RNZ Reporter Sally Murphy is at Civil Defence Napier with the latest on roadings and evacuations and also incredible survival stories from Esk Valley.

09:20 Cyclone Gabrielle : Tairawhiti and Tolaga farms under water - help is on its way

There has been scant information about the state of rural Tairawhiti - and the many small communities and farms inland from Gisborne and Wairoa. Local Federated Farmers board member Sandra Faulkner is working with Civil Defence to get helicopters in beyond the broken bridges and washed out roads to check on farmers.

09:25 Cyclone Gabrielle : power outages in Wairoa

Most people affected live in rural areas, including 1000 Wairoa residents. Eastland Network General Manager Jared Moroney says just over 2000 customers still don't have power in Tairāwhiti. 

09:35 Cyclone Gabrielle : Piha residents isolated and angry 

On Auckland's west coast, Piha resident, Mark Mitchinson says locals are cut off and some are stuck in their houses, he says North Piha is still underwater and some people feel like they've been forgotten.

09:45 Cyclone Gabrielle : how  Hawkes Bay hospital and medical facilities are coping

Dr Robin Whyman, is the Hawke's Bay Chief Medical Officer says elective surgery is cancelled. Two primary care sites have been opened in Napier.

09:50 Cyclone Gabrielle : Hawkes Bay orchardist Paul Paynter

Paul Paynter's company Yummy Fruit is a major provider to the domestic market. He says there are horrific scenes in parts of the Esk Valley, with orchards and vines underwater and silt, dead animals and debris everywhere.

10:05 Cyclone Gabrielle : mental health and trauma support

Clinical Psychologist Sarb Johal who's specialty is disaster and trauma psychology talks to Kathryn about what  people need in times like this

10: 25 Cyclone Gabrielle : census to go ahead

Census day is just over two weeks away and official say it will go ahead, despite the devastation wrought by Cyclone Gabrielle. Stats NZ says it is working closely with NEMA and other government agencies to understand the impacts on the North Island and will make further decisions about census operations accordingly. Simon Mason is Deputy Government Statistician and Census and Collection Operations deputy chief executive.

10:35 Cyclone Gabrielle : Coromandel roading and recovery

The Coromandel Peninsula is in major recovery mode after 6 weeks of heavy rain, with many parts being cut off following huge landslides. Mayor of Thames-Coromandel Len Salt says the whole district is under threat financially and socially.

 

10:40 Cyclone Gabrielle : remote Kaipara communities 'powerless'

Pera Paniora is the Maori Ward councillor in Kaipara says some communities may not have electricity for weeks.

 

10:50 Cyclone Gabrielle : Paul Brislen on failing connectivity

Phone and internet are still a big problem for many in Tairawhiti and Hawkes Bay.

Paul Brislen is head of the Telecommunications Forum and is with us for an update.

10:55 Cyclone Gabrielle : Todd Niall in Auckland 

The focus of Cyclone Gabrielle devastation has moved further south, but it leaves behind mounting issues in the north. Auckland, Stuff Senior Auckland Affairs Journalist Todd Niall outlines the gravity of crumbling infrastructure in the city of Sails.

 

11:05 Cyclone Gabrielle : URGENT NOTICE -  STOP USING WATER IN GISBORNE 

The main water treatment plant is inoperational, the system is overloaded. Gisborne town supply is not suitable for drinking or washing. RNZ reporter Mani Dunlop has been onboard navy vessel Manawanui, which has urgent backup water supplies for Tairawhiti. 

11:10 Cyclone Gabrielle : Transpower update on electricity situation in Hawkes Bay

Transpower expects to complete bypass of it's flooded Redclyffe substation near Taradale this evening. The substation suffered extensive damage during the Cyclone and Transpower has been working with Unison Networks to create a bypass for the 220KV high voltage line to enable it to connect to the Whakatu substation north-east of Hastings. Transpower Chief Executive Alison Andrew shares the latest with Kathryn.

 

11:23 Cyclone Gabrielle : disruption to Hawkes Bay & Tairawhiti schools

Schools are trying to assess how quickly they can reopen but it remains unclear just how many may have been badly damaged, particularly in isolated cut-off communities. Home schooling also isn't an option - while communications are down. Lance Christiansen is the principal of Central Hawkes Bay College and the Hawkes Bay-East Coast representative on the Secondary Principals Council. He says access is impossible for some children in areas with washed bridges and damaged roads. Gisborne school principals are meeting today to try to determine the way ahead.

 

11:35 Cyclone Gabrielle : Hastings Civil Defence efforts to reach cut-off areas

RNZ reporter Lauren Crimp on the ground in Hastings at the Civil Defence HQ. Efforts are ongoing to get supplies to the most isolated rural communities, including Wairoa. A plea from authorities to people to only travel if absolutely necessary. 

11:36  Cyclone Gabrielle : Far North Mayor Moko Tepania

Moko Tepania says the district is very much in recovery mode. Supply drops are planned with food and water for very remote settlements. A helicopter loaded with supplies is about to leave Kerikeri. Building inspectors are out across the district finding many inhabitable homes. For people in dire need - they can call this helpline number 0800920029.

11: 40 Cyclone Gabrielle : care for the elderly

Resthome and aged care facilities have been struggling with power outages and supply issues. There were evacuations of some homes in Napier and Hastings - but all resident are now back in their facilities. But in Wairoa a group of residents at a local resthome are still be looked after at a local marae. Simon Wallace is the Chief Executive of the Aged Care Association.
 

11:45 Cyclone Gabrielle : smaller Kaipara settlements pulling together

Terri Donaldson from Maungaturoto's Civil Defence committee has an overview of some of the Kaipara's settlements including Whakapirau and Paparoa.

 

11:50 Cyclone Gabrielle : efforts to save animals

The Ministry for Primary Industries is leading the animal welfare response affected by the weather events.  Wayne Ricketts is the National Animal Welfare Coordinator says feed is coming in for farm animals and he has information of what help is available for companion animals. A shelter has been set up in Hawkes Bay.

11:52 Cyclone Gabrielle : much needed rural support, where to turn

Jonathan Bell is the Rural Support Trust area coordinator for Hawkes Bay. He says helicopters are doing air drops to badly affected communities.