11 Dec 2023

Initial findings of probe into response to major weather events to stay secret

1:24 pm on 11 December 2023
Flooding on Candia Road in Henderson Valley, west Auckland on 27 January 2023.

Flooding in Henderson Valley, west Auckland on 27 January 2023. Photo: Supplied

The inquiry into this year's big storms has given its interim findings to the government.

The official inquiry has been working since July looking at Cyclone Gabrielle in February and the Auckland Anniversary Day floods in January.

It has now reported to Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell, though he will not be releasing the recommendations publicly.

"As these are early insights, the interim recommendations will not be made public," his spokesperson said in a statement.

The inquiry has put restrictions on releasing them, as "justice and fact-checking processes have not yet been completed", ahead of its final report-back due in March.

The inquiry has conducted 170 interviews and received 145 written submissions.

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