Nine To Noon for Tuesday 14 February 2023

 

 

 

09:05 Cyclone Gabrielle: Hawke's Bay town of Wairoa cut off

There are reports of widespread flooding and communications in the northern Hawke's Bay town of Wairoa. Kathryn speaks to the town's mayor Craig Little who's trapped near Tuai, near Waikaremoana.

 

09:15 Cyclone Gabrielle: Defence Force joins Muriwai rescue

The Defence Force has deployed specialist teams to respond to the devastation of the cyclone - they've been involved in rescuing people from Muriwai this morning. Colonel Mel Childs, Defence Force Task Group Commander has the latest. 

 

09:20 Cyclone Gabrielle: Evacuated residents following slip in Auckland's Muriwai

A volunteer firefighter remains trapped inside a collapsed house in the beach suburb and another is in a critical condition after being caught in a landslide. All residents in Motutara Road and Domain Crescent were told to evacuate as slips destabilised the area. Kathryn speaks to Domain Cr resident Oliver Neuland who was told to leave in the early hours. Also another resident Joe who is at the Muriwai Surf Club with other evacuees.

 

09:27 Cyclone Gabrielle: Tolaga Bay farmer - 'It's total f**ing carnage'

Bridget Parker farms inland from Tolaga Bay, her farm is covered with sediment and logs, she says it's total carnage and "we're totally bloody gutted".

 

09:38 Cyclone Gabrielle: Hawkes Bay farms and vineyards damaged

Bruce Wills from Federated Farmers describes the situation from his farm in Roys Hill in the Hastings District.

09:42 Cyclone Gabrielle: Minister Kieran McAnulty on national state of emergency

The Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty says Cyclone Gabrielle has had major impacts across North Island. He says it's a significant disaster, posing real threat to lives of New Zealanders. He says while the worst of the storm has passed, the National declaration was needed due to the extensive flooding, slips, damaged roads and infrastructure. He is also joined at the press conference by Acting Director Civil Defence Management Roger Ball. 

09:50 Cyclone Gabrielle: Telecommunications systems cut - how long to restore?

The cyclone is causing major telecommunications outages. Gisborne in particular is completely isolated this morning with internet and mobile phone lines out.  Paul Brislen is head of the Telecommunications Forum - which represents all three of the phone networks - Spark, Two Degrees and Vodafone.

10:10 Cyclone Gabrielle: RNZ reporter Kate Green in Gisborne

We've heard stories of absolute devastation coming out of Tairawhiti this morning - and also - once again - the anger and frustration over the mess caused by forestry slash. Gisborne - and many other part of the region have been completely isolated - with internet and mobile phone lines out. Reporter Kate Green is in Gisborne on a satellite phone.

10:20  Cyclone Gabrielle: Esk Valley residents rally for rescues

Residents of the Esk Valley in Hawke's Bay have been badly affected by flooding, with many forced from their homes. Kathryn speaks with Greg Miller, the chef at Linden Estate winery in Esk Valley, on SH 5, the Napier Taupo Road who's been co-ordinating a rescue mission there.

10:25: Cyclone Gabrielle: Northland town of Dargaville cut off

Kaipara District Mayor Craig Jepson said the town of Dargaville had been cut off by floods as a high tide met heavy rain on Tuesday morning.

10:30 Cyclone Gabrielle: Napier mayor Kirsten Wise

Hawke's Bay has been particularly badly hit by Gabrielle overnight with flooding and power cuts. Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise joins Kathryn to talk about a lack of communication through the region and what could happen during the approaching high tide.

10:35 Cyclone Gabrielle: Transpower issues grid emergency

National grid operator Transpower has declared a grid emergency in Hawke's Bay due to an unplanned outage, issuing a red notice at 8 o'clock this morning. Transpower says suspected flooding has caused damage and an extend outage is likely because access to the site is limited. Alison Andrew, Transpower's CEO.

10:45 Cyclone Gabrielle: Air New Zealand flights still grounded

Air New Zealand says it's resumed international flights and domestic jet operations. Over all there have been  500 flight cancellations impacting more than 29,000 customers. Greg Foran, the airline's CEO, updates Kathryn on when turbo prop flights might resume.

10:50 Cyclone Gabrielle: Evacuations ordered in Hastings District

There have been multiple evacuations ordered in central Hawkes Bay, Alex Walker is the Mayor of Central Hawke's Bay District. Residents in the Taradale and Omahu areas have been ordered to evacuate immediately, with Hawkes Bay Civil Defence saying they should stay with family and friends. 

10:45 Around the motu: Mary Argue in Wairarapa 

Mary updates Kathryn on the Cyclone Gabrielle situation in her region. Despite huge opposition Waka Kotahi (previously NZTA) has dropped the speed limits on State Highway 2, meaning you cannot go above 80km/h between Masterton and Featherson. Mary talks to Kathryn about the huge backlash from business owners and tourism. 

Mary Argue is the Chief reporter at Wairarapa Times Age 

11:08 Cyclone Gabrielle: Update on coastal areas

Auckland's big western beach areas of Muriwai, Piha and Karekare have been badly affected by the Cyclone overnight. Kathryn speaks to RNZ reporter Rowan Quinn.

11:05 Business commentator Pattrick Smellie

In light of recent flooding events and the wrath of Cyclone Gabrielle, Pattrick talks to Kathryn about the issue of managed retreat, There are big chunks of NZ where people are living or running businesses that will gradually either become uninsurable or very expensive to insure. Also, corporate earnings season gets under way this week - shares have rebounded a bit in recent weeks as the global inflation outlook starts to improve, but the first couple of big announcements from NZX companies have been weak - Contact Energy and Fletcher Building. 

Pattrick is is the editor and co-founder of BusinessDesk and has reported on the New Zealand economy and business since 1983.

11:25 Cyclone Gabrielle: National view of emergency response

Kathryn speaks with Acting Director Civil Defence Management Roger Ball about the National State of Emergency that's been declared and what that means for the worst affected areas.

11:30 Cyclone Gabrielle: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins

The Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has given an update on the national situation with Cyclone Gabrielle.

11:40 Cyclone Gabrielle: Panpac forestry operation under water

The cyclone has devastated the huge Panpac forestry operation just to the north of Napier - at Whirinaki. The whole site is under two metres of water - after the Esk River behind the plant, breached its banks. Panpac managing director Tony Clifford joins Kathryn.

11:45 Cyclone Gabrielle: Coromandel Mayor Len Salt

Len Salt joins Kathryn for an update on how Cyclone Gabrielle has added to existing woes in the region after multiple flooding and slip events this summer.

11:50 Cyclone Gabrielle: Kumara business owner devastated

Kaipara Kumara Anthony Blundell runs his business at Ruawai near Dargaville, where the power is out and the land is rain-soaked. He says it's been a tough 24 hours.

11:55 Cyclone Gabrielle: Watercare asks some Auckland residents to reduce usage

Watercare has urged customers in Muriwai, Helensville and Wellsford to reduce their water use. It says local water treatment plants have been affected by power and communications outages - and the road issues mean access to the plants are difficult. Local water storage reservoirs are starting to run now  -and there's  a risk they'll run out of water. Kathryn is joined by Nigel Toms, Watercare's incident controller.