Natural Disasters
Businesses in Greymouth damaged after Tornado tore through town
Some businesses in Greymouth have been damaged after a tornado tore through the West Coast town late last night.
Parts of Otago are also in the wild weather's firing line, leaving them without power… Audio
Coromandel roads make residents with health needs anxious
Coromandel residents are anxious that the state of the peninsula's roads means they'll have trouble getting the health treatment they need. Some locals are already reported to have moved from the… Audio
Spending in cyclone-hit Coromandel takes a massive hit
Of those tourism and hospitality businesses questioned, 95 percent had decreased profits.
Kawerau rattled by earthquake swarm
People in Kawerau have been on edge over the weekend with a large swarm of earthquakes rattling the town.
Some businesses had to shut down with stock repeatedly thrown from shelves, and some people… Audio
Residents of 'ghost town'-like street demand managed retreat
Some West Auckland residents who own yellow stickered properties are refusing to return even if their homes are fixed. There are 14 yellow-stickered houses on Camphora Place in Ranui and residents say… Audio
Cyclone-hit town wondering when aid is supposed to arrive
Residents of the small Hawke's Bay town of Pōrangahau say they are feeling forgotten, with little sign of government agencies a month after Cyclone Gabrielle.
Wairoa mayor on PM's visit to cyclone-hit region
After two failed attempts the Prime Minister has finally visited Wairoa more than a month after the town was hit by Cyclone Gabrielle. Wairoa Mayor Craig Little talks to Lisa Owen. [embed]… Video, Audio
Wairoa expecting a visit from the PM
Wairoa was out of contact with the outside world for more than 24 hours after Cyclone Gabrielle.
But the cyclone-enforced isolation has finally started to ease with the partial reopening of State… Audio
Family at odds with council over landslide response
A Stokes Valley couple say it took too long to lift a dangerous building notice from their home.
Cyclone Gabrielle: Preventing a communications blackout in the next big disaster
No landlines, no cellphone coverage, no internet - everything went down in Gabrielle, how do we stop it from happening again? Audio
A third of red-stickered homes in Muriwai now deemed safe
The Muriwai community has become divided, with one third of previously red-stickered homes, now deemed safe to live in.
173 properties in the West Auckland beach settlment were red-stickered after… Audio
Gisborne water table around ground level
So much rain has fallen on and around Gisborne that the water table is pretty much at or even above ground level.
Council scientists say it's unprecedented and risky for the city - at the moment… Audio
Lower Hutt family says its thousands out of pocket after slip
A Lower Hutt family says it is thousands of dollars out of pocket after a massive slip forced it from its home eight months ago.
Hutt City Council lifted the dangerous building notice this week - but… Audio
Insurance expert warns cash payments unlikely to cover costs for flood rebuild
An insurance expert is warning that many flood and cyclone-hit homeowners with claims for write-offs are unlikely to get cash payouts that cover their rebuild costs.
As well, many insurance policies… Audio
Top Stories for Wednesday 15 March 2023
Insurance expert warns cash payments unlikely for flood rebuild; Lower Hutt family says its thousands out of pocket after slip; Hipkins hints Ardern could continue Christchurch Call work; 10,000 more… Audio
Aucklanders say water price hike badly timed, but needed
Watercare chief executive Dave Chambers said the hike was unavoidable - and locals appear reluctantly in agreement.
Resident calls on council to maintain streams on private land
Hundreds of West Auckland properties have been been red or yellow strickered after being hammered by the anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. Several of these homes were inundanted after local… Audio
Central Hawke's Bay water supply repairs a great step in cyclone recovery - mayor
A 'next-level' effort has seen the Central Hawke's Bay's water treatment plant fully operating, but damaged farms and 'hammered' roading remain big challenges, the district's mayor says. Audio
Northern Queensland flood records broken
Flood records have been swept aside in Burke, in Northern Queensland, Australia, where vast swathes of the Gulf of Carpentaria are underwater.
Most residents of Burketown were flown to safety, while… Audio
Flood-prone Aucklanders want more stream maintenance
There are growing calls for the government to consider a managed-retreat from flood-prone areas in West Auckland.
Some residents are asking Auckland Council to step up, as retreat could take years to… Audio
