Wairoa has received extra funding to help mitigate the damages and clean up after the recent flooding events, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell announced today.
An additional $3 million of funding has been given to the Wairoa District Council to go towards “the clean-up of household waste and sediment for more than 400 properties impacted by last week’s weather event. This includes the collection, removal, and disposal of sediment, debris and household waste”, Mitchell said.
Alongside earlier Government contributions of $600,000, “this means $3.6 million of Government funding is available to assist Wairoa communities with the recovery and rebuilding process”.
It was believed the damage would cost the town around $40 million, and the intent of the $3 million is to “make sure we can remove property damage and take that off the streets,” Luxon said.
He noted the council asked for $2.7 million.
The Prime Minister said his priority is ensuring Wairoa can receive support and assistance quickly.
“What’s important to me, is making sure, in a place like Wairoa that can get cut off and be very isolated very easily… that we are speeding up the recovery and getting the support in there quicker.”
Having seen the land from a chopper, he called the land “vulnerable”.
“The land itself is quite unstable at times… it is a difficult environment.”
Mitchell said in an accompanying statement: “Our priority is to ensure that communities can return to normalcy as quickly as possible.”
Luxon said longer-term solutions will be discussed following a review into the flooding after “significant concerns” that the Wairoa River bar wasn’t opened quickly enough before the flooding.
“We have a good sense of where that is heading to, but more will be said about that later. We’ve now got to kick on and get that work done.”
It comes as the Wairoa District Council launched a Givealittle page to help raise funds for the recovery. The relief fund has swelled to more than $207,000 so far.
‘It could have been prevented’
Many Wairoa locals believe the Regional Council’s delayed response to open the river bar before the storm contributed to the disaster.
“It could have been prevented had the bar been opened,” lamented a local resident. A volunteer firefighter echoed similar sentiments, expressing frustration with the response and handling of the situation.
More than 500 homes have been affected by the recent flooding. One resident recounted wading through waist-deep water with her baby, waiting for rescue by her uncle.
Following Cyclone Gabrielle, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council received $70 million from the Government to enhance flood protection for Wairoa. However, 1News can reveal only $1 million of that fund has been spent on plans and reviews so far.
Hawke’s Bay mayor Craig Little demanded answers.
“So what the hell have we spent it on? I’m sorry, that is not acceptable. Now we’ve got $69 million to do flood protection work,” he said.
Acknowledging the delays, Luxon emphasised the need for swift action.
“It is frustrating, it’s taking too long,” he said.
Luxon expected the regional council to announce a final flood plan this month.
“All I’m interested in is getting that long-term solution in place as fast as we possibly can to lower the levels of anxiety of people in Wairoa.”
Many locals believe they should manage the river mouth themselves.
“Listen to us, give us a chance to show you what we know. We know our river,” urged resident Danielle Brown-McKenzie.
Little supported the view, replying, “I just want someone local who has that knowledge, not someone sitting in an office in Napier”.
Former Police Commissioner Mike Bush will lead a review into the river bar management, with some answers expected by August.
– Additional reporting by Henry McMullan