Nine To Noon for Thursday 16 February 2023

 

 

09:05 Cyclone Gabrielle: RNZ reporter Lauren Crimp

RNZ reporter Lauren Crimp is at the Civil Defence Centre in Hastings. A helicopter has gone to Wairoa this morning with star link comms and supplies, and there will be more going today. Wairoa is totally cut off by road, has no power or internet.

09:10 Cyclone Gabrielle: How is agriculture holding up?

The cyclone has caused havoc for grower through Hawke's Bay and Gisborne regions. Richard Burke is chief executive of Leaderbrand, a major grower in Gisborne.

09:20 Cyclone Gabrielle: Food and Grocery Council on ongoing impact

Now to look at food supplies - amid widespread farm and crop devastation - and the impact on what we'll be able to buy in food stores. Raewyn Bleakley is the CEO of the NZ Food and Grocery Council. 

09:35 Cyclone Gabrielle: New thunderstorm threat for affected regions

Metservice has issued a Severe thunderstorm watch for Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay. Metservice forecaster Lisa Murray joins Kathryn for an update.

09:40 Cyclone Gabrielle: What's happening with hospitals

Now for an update from Te Whatu Ora on how hospitals in in Tairāwhiti and Hawkes Bay are coping. Despite power outages and internet problems, they are operating. Hawkes Bay Hospital remains open for urgent cases, but elective surgery is cancelled. There's a week of fuel left for generators supporting Gisborne Hospital. The interim national medical director for Te Whatu Ora, Dr Pete Watson.

09:45 Cyclone Gabrielle: Latest on how long the power will be out

Some Napier households are being warned power will be out for at least another two weeks. Of about 40-thousand homes without power across Hawke's Bay, almost 32,000 of those are in and around Napier. The regional council says emergency power has been provided for the Wellesley Road Medical Centre, Countdown supermarket and  Caltex Napier. Transpower says it is working to route more power through its Whakatu substation northeast of Hastings, and will have an update on that later today Lines company Unison says it had limited access to the national grid and to parts of its own network. Danny Gough from Unison Network joins Kathryn for an update.

09:50 Cyclone Gabrielle: Major cleanup faces affected farmers

We go back to Hawkes Bay and the impact and potential longer term effects of this disaster on farmers. Kathryn is joined by the President of Hawkes Bay Federated Farmers Jim Galloway - who's out and about on his farm at Raukawa, west of Hastings.

09:55 Cyclone Gabrielle: Dairy farmers find it hard to milk

Some dairy farmers have no power and can't milk their cows, others can't get tankers to their properties due to damage to the road network. Sarah Speight is Dairy NZX farm performance general manager.

10:00 Cyclone Gabrielle: Hawkes Bay Civil Defence briefing

Civil Defence is providing a briefing this morning on the situation throughout Hawke's Bay. Defence controller Iain MacDonald says it’s been an extremely trying few days for the local community. He says the hospital is open to critical care but all elective surgery has been cancelled. He says widespread and significant damage to the region’s roads – priorities are access to the Whirinaki township (north of Napier) and SH50, the Expressway. Waka Kotahi has told Civil Defence the Expressway is expected to open in the next 24 hours. Wairoa township has adequate food supply and more is coming from Gisborne in the next 12 to 24 hours. Mr MacDonald says the wastewater treatment plant in Hastings is operating but Napier’s remains compromised. He urges people to continue conserving water where possible. Mr MacDonald says due to the flooding of the Redclyffe substation, much of the region remains without power, with only about 90,000 homes and businesses currently connected to power. He says Transpower and Unison are making good progress on working out how to bypass the substation. But it’s likely to be up to a week before Hawkes Bay is fully connected again.

10:28 Cyclone Gabrielle: Dargaville experiences more flooding

Late yesterday the Kaipara District Council warned residents who live along River Road, and Victoria and Logan Streets, as well as side streets and Finlayson Park Avenue to leave there homes,  as high tide loomed. Some arrived at one of Dargaville's evacuation centres  - the Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Reverend Frank Nelson says people are welcome in, even if they just need some company.

10:35 Cyclone Gabrielle: Coromandel could be reconnected - Waka Kotahi

Waka Kotahi says travel to and from the Coromandel should be possible by this morning, with the region having been cut off for days. Dozens of roads have been damaged by slips and flooding across the motu. In Tairāwhiti and Hawke's Bay, wrecked roads - including several bridges - have trapped entire communities, though State Highway 51 between Napier and Hastings was reopened late last night after contractors cleared debris. Waka Kotahi National Emergency Response Team spokesperson Mark Owen joins Kathryn for the latest.

10:40 Cyclone Gabrielle: Further evacuations in central Hawkes Bay

People living on Drumpeel Road, Otane, in Central Hawke's Bay are being asked to "leave their properties immediately" and head to the CHB Municipal Theatre. Fire and Emergency services are on route. Alex Walker is the Mayor of the Central Hawke's Bay District.

10:45 Cyclone Gabrielle: Napier Port to reopen for fuel deliveries tomorrow

Napier's Port has been out of action since 5pm on Monday and will be closed until tomorrow. Shipping will start again when it's safe to do so, with a number of vessels at anchor. A survey of Napier Port's operating assets has revealed only minor damage, with further assessments to take place throughout the coming week.  As a lifeline asset Napier Port is providing facilities to the NZ Army on port, enabling them to set up a local base and assist with the region's response. Napier Port has deployed on-port generation to support critical infrastructure, including refrigerated containers. Todd Dawson is the CEO of the port and joins with an update.

10:50 Cyclone Gabrielle: Auckland community leader - 'Where's the Council?'

Butterbean founder and Auckland community leader Dave Letele says there's no let-up in the support needed for thousands of flood-affected Aucklanders. He says government agencies and Auckland Council has really let them down. He says his team is trying to work in Hastings community groups too.

10:55 Cyclone Gabrielle: RNZ reporter Mani Dunlop near Gisborne

Large parts of Gisborne have been left without internet, phone coverage and a damaged water supply following Cyclone Gabrielle. At least one person has lost their life in the town - their body was found as flood waters receded in the town on the east coast. In Te Karaka, inland from Gisborne, 500 people were evacuated at 5am on Tuesday, heading for safety on higher ground. They were left stranded for more than a day with no communication. It's an area that will be visited by the Prime Minister Chris Hipkins today.

11:05 Cyclone Gabrielle: Dealing with dangerous trees

Now to West Auckland, where bush clad Muriwai, Karekare, Piha and other settlements on the coast have been hard hit. Arborist companies are literally working around the clock to fell and clear trees threatening homes. Zach Fell - from TreeTops says there's no let up.

11:10 Cyclone Gabrielle: What's the impact on agriculture?

There are great concerns for the agricultural production areas around Hawke's Bay and Gisborne. James Allan is the Chief Executive of agri-business consultancy Agfirst.

11:15 Cyclone Gabrielle: Defence Minister Andrew Little

Hundreds of Defence Force personnel are working with council and Civil Defence staff and volunteers to assist in the rescue effort. Navy ships have reached worst hit areas with water and other essentials. Defence Minister Andrew Little joins Kathryn for an update.

11:25 Cyclone Gabrielle: Some Kaipara residents spend third night in evac centres

Returning north to Dargaville now, to the swamped town of Kaipara, where some residents spent a third night in evacuation centres. The call was made yesterday evening for people who live near the Wairoa River, in the centre of town, to evacuate again last night.  The head of Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua, Antony Thompson, says a large swathe of town was flooded yet again, though it wasn't as bad as previous nights. 

11:30 Cyclone Gabrielle: Transpower seeks to restore power to Napier

The national power grid operator says it has made changes to get enough power to Hawke's Bay and Gisborne for 90,000 households.  However, 40,800 homes remain without power in Hawke's Bay - and the focus is to get power to the Whakatu substation, which will help with the restoration of power to central Napier. John Clarke is Transpower's General Manager grid development. 

11:40 Cyclone Gabrielle: Hasting's principal - 'It's heartbreaking'

Many schools have been hard hit by the flooding in Hawkes Bay - and it could be weeks before children can return to the classroom. Twyford School on the outskirts of Hastings was inundated when the Ngaruroro River topped its banks. It has a roll of 180 - and Principal Sam Hocking has concerns for many of the families in his community.

11:50 Cyclone Gabrielle: Tech correspondent Bill Bennett

Bill joins Kathryn to talk about how internet connections have held up during Cyclone Gabrielle.

11:53: Cyclone Gabrielle: Wairoa Mayor Craig Little on what the town needs

The town of Wairoa has been cut off for days, but efforts are underway to restore power and reconnect the town. Kathryn talks to mayor Craig Little about residents need most and how they're coping.