Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
A review into the flood that devastated Wairoa in June has found Hawke's Bay Regional Council lacked a proper plan for managing the river mouth, and did not listen to locals who called for action before heavy rain was forecast.
More than 400 properties flooded when heavy rain pelted Wairoa on June 26.
At the time, locals criticised the regional council for not digging a channel to let the rising river release into the sea sooner - known as 'opening the bar'.
The urgent government review undertaken by Mike Bush found the council didn't consider the worst case scenario, or listen to locals about digging the channel.
RNZ reporter Lauren Crimp talks to Kathryn about what is in the report and the Government Crown Manager Lawrence Yule discusses where plans are at for flood mitigation at Wairoa.
