Monday, 10 July 2023 15:55

Team named to probe response to severe weather events

Written by  Staff Reporters
Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty has announced three further appointments to the Government Inquiry into the response to the 2023 North Island severe weather events. Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty has announced three further appointments to the Government Inquiry into the response to the 2023 North Island severe weather events.

Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty has announced further appointments to the Government Inquiry into the response to the 2023 North Island severe weather events.

Sir Jerry Mateparae, who was announced as chair of the inquiry two weeks ago, will be joined on the Inquiry by:

  • John Ombler CNZM QSO, who has held numerous senior public service leadership roles including Deputy State Services Commissioner and chief executive of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA).
  • Julie Greene, who is based in Hawke’s Bay and has spent over two decades working in the horticulture and rural sectors within New Zealand, including senior leadership roles at Heinz Watties.
  • Rangimarie Hunia, director of Moana New Zealand, chair of the Te Ohu Kaimoana Trust, and chair of Ngā Pūkenga mo Te Tai Ohanga (Treasury).

The Panel will be appointed for the duration of the Government Inquiry, which is due to be completed in March 2024.

“There are always lessons that come from responses to severe weather events. We began an inquiry to ensure New Zealand’s emergency management system is properly set up so that we’re ready for and can respond to future emergency events,” McAnulty says.

He says the members of the inquiry, announced today, have broad knowledge and experience from a wide range of relevant areas.

“The Inquiry will look at how prepared local and central governments were to be able to respond to the severe weather events.

“The Government has committed $6.8 million to meet the costs of the Inquiry. It is important it’s done right and has the resources it needs,” he adds.

“Many agencies involved in the severe weather response are undertaking their own reviews, which will be more specific. The Government Inquiry will not seek to duplicate this work and will be informed by the findings of those reviews when making recommendations.

“I’d like to welcome the members of the Inquiry and thank them for being a part of this work. The weather events have been extremely tough on communities and it’s important we learn lessons and keep improving.”

More like this

Editorial: Testing times

OPINION: Our hearts go out to the farmers and rural communities in Southland and Otago who are battling an onslaught of adverse weather.

Farmer woes

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little says things are still not back to normal for farmers in his district and they are still suffering from problems caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Locally grown fruits, veg in full supply

One of the country’s two largest supermarket chains is reporting that for the first time since the disruption of Covid, they have largely full supply on almost all fruit and vegetables grown locally.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

National

Winter grazing warning

Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.

ANZ defends farm lending rates

The country's largest lender to the agriculture sector says it's not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.

Machinery & Products

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo…

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter