Wairoa flood review findings released
A review into the Wairoa flooding event on 26 June 2024 has found the flood was caused by a combination of factors leading to the river backing up and overflowing.
Minister for Emergency Management Mark Mitchell says the Mayoral Fund has been triggered, activating $300,000 for regional recovery after severe weather hit the East Coast this week.
$100,000 each will be given to the Wairoa, Gisborne and Hastings District Councils as part of the initial response.
Speaking from the Haumoana Fire Station, Mitchell acknowledged the work of Mayors and first responders in the East Coast region.
“They have responded quickly, they have stood up the teams… the police evacuated over 200 homes last night here in Haumoana.”
While Mitchell says he hasn’t yet seen the state the storm has left Wairoa in, he understands that the community south of the Wairoa bridge have been hard this time. This is largely due to 6m swells.
“Once I’m on the ground, I’ll be able to get around and visualize and see exactly what the damage is but the reports are they’ve definitely got damage there,” he says.
“It’s pretty catastrophic for them, they continue to get hit so getting up there is my priority.”
Meanwhile, Hawke’s Bay Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst says she wants to acknowledge the community and those who stood up the emergency hub as part of the community civil defence response.
“It’s fair to say they’ve done an amazing job and [I’m] incredibly grateful to everyone’s support,” Hazlehurst says.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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