Seemorerocks: New Zealand: The Northland floods

Northland adverse event declared

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has declared a medium-scale adverse event for the primary sector in storm-hit Northland.

Flooding in Pipiwai, west of Whangarei.

Photo: Steve MacMillan

Radio NZ,
15 July, 2014

The declaration provides a framework for Government support as assessments continue to be made.

Nathan Guy says with calving beginning, and avocado crops close to harvest, the storm could not have come at a worse time.

He said it has been a tough blow for many farmers in western parts of Northland who suffered through a prolonged drought earlier this year.

Mr Guy said he would be kept updated on any requests for Government assistance which could include helping with the clean-up, tax flexibility arrangements or financial hardship assistance.

Federated Farmers' Northland provincial president Roger Ludbrook earlier said farmers were hoping the minister would declare a medium-scale adverse event.

"One of the things it does (is) trigger an opportunity to use Task Force Green workers when water recedes, to help clean up your farm. They are a real godsend to you when you are in that position."

Mr Ludbrook said Moerewa and Kawakawa, the Hikurangi Swamp and Ruawai had been hardest hit.

"[Some farmers], like those in Hikurangi, are in for a long hard haul, they could be underwater for a few more days, so they are going to be feeling a bit despondent."

Overall bill in the millions

The acting mayor of the Far North, Sally Macauley, said the final repair bill from the severe weather was certain to be in the millions of dollars because it left many roads damaged, as well as a big clean up job for farmers.

"As I drove to Whangarei yesterday I viewed the farmlands - you would consider yourself driving past Lake Taupo."

Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye on Monday announced the Government was contributing $100,000 to the mayoral relief fund.

Northland Regional Council chairman Bill Shepherd said while it was a big help for some communities, it needed to be kept in perspective.

"The mayoral relief fund deals with families and households, it does not deal with the businesses that have been closed down, or farms that have been flooded ... or damaged houses, buildings or vehicles."

Food supplies getting through

There are no issues with food supplies reaching Northland despite storm-related damage to the region's roads, Civil Defence officials say.

Radio NZ,

15 July, 2014

Northland civil defence spokesman Graeme MacDonald said suggestions that damage to roads was causing food supply issues were incorrect and goods trucks were still able to reach virtually all parts of the region and deliveries were being made.

State Highway 1 at Maromaku, south of Kawakawa, remains closed due to storm damage.

Photo: NZTA

Northland Regional Council chairman Bill Shepherd had earlier said the road closures had been causing issues for food supplies.

Mr MacDonald said at the height of the storm some supermarkets may have got low on a few items, but had quickly restocked once the storm had ended.

He said roading authorities were working hard to fix damage and aimed to have one badly slip-affected section of State Highway 1 south of Kawakawa operational again within days.

The storm caused a massive slip on the highway at Maromaku which closed the road. The Transport Agency said contractors would be working around the clock to try to get at least one lane open within the next week.

Crews are working on a relief road round the slip but Jacqui Hori-Hoult of the Transport Agency told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme it would be several days before it could be opened.

State Highway 12 is the official detour route, but the highway is reduced to a single lane at Kaihu.

Photo: NZTA

The agency has also closed Mangakahia Road to heavy traffic, meaning the only open route is State Highway 12, up the west coast through Hokianga - adding an extra two hours to the journey.

But Kaihu resident Peter Bailey said that State Highway was already half gone, and he did not know how long it would last if heavy trucks were sent along it.

The slips caused by the rain were subsiding but there was still a 6m drop from the road to the river below, and about 40m of the highway was down to one lane, he said.

"But there doesn't seem to be any bedrock under the highway. I know it's been repaired there a few times before, but I don't know what's holding the road up.

"Half the road is gone, so put your money down and take your chances is what I would say."

Federated Farmers' Northland provincial president Roger Ludbrook said he was not aware of the roads causing any particular issues and that milk was still being collected.

A Fonterra spokesperson said there had been some delays but that the road closures had not caused major issues.

Water supply still critical

Civil Defence in the Far North says it could be another two days before the Paihia water supply is back to full strength.

Over the past few days, the reservoir level had fallen to just 15 percent after the treatment plant became clogged with silt from the flooded Waitangi River.

Despite calls for residents to use as little as possible Far North District Council says people are stockpiling water and that's contributing to critically low levels.

Far North civil defence controller Alastair Wells said they're waiting for the river level to drop, which will hopefully happen during fine spells over the next few days.

Bill for storms set to top $100m

The country is on track for a $100 million bill from damage caused by severe weather events.

Radio NZ,
15 July, 2014

The figure comes as Northland cleans up after the country's fifth big event this year - which caused widespread flooding, power cuts and road closures.

Roads were reopening on Thursday but floodwaters lingered in St Albans.

Flooding in Christchurch in March.

Photo: RNZ / Nicola Grigg

Last year insurers paid out nearly $175 millon in weather-related damage claims, making it the second most expensive year since records began in 1968.

And this year is set to be another costly one; extreme weather events have already cost insurers about $77 million in the first half of this year - and the Northland storm is only going to add to that bill.

Local Government New Zealand president Lawrence Yule said the damage caused by weather could be soul destroying for councils.

"They're very, very disruptive. Not only for the people that have had flooded houses or farmers who can't feed animals those type of things, but repairing the infrastructure is a complex and costly exercise," Mr Yule said.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research forecaster Chris Brandolino said there could be more heavy rainfall in next few months as easterly winds brought in more warm air from the subtropics.

And New Zealand could expect more extreme weather, from flooding to droughts, in the future, he said.

Change of approach needed

Mr Yule said if severe weather was going to become more frequent, then councils and the Government needed to look at what could be done.

"If you look at the Tasman District, for instance, in the last two years it has probably had three or four serious floods.

"If that's going to happen, what are the changes that need to be made in terms of the level of design for storm water control, where people live in relation to flood plains. That will need to be looked at in the medium to long term."

Mr Yule said authorities also needed to look at how the country responded to extreme weather and how to fund the damage caused.

Insurance Council chief executive Tim Grafton said New Zealand needed to spend more money on measures aimed at reducing the impact of natural disasters.

"For every dollar invested in pre-disaster planning it will save many more dollars in the cost of what happens after a disaster strikes," Mr Grafton said.

If nothing was done, there would be more claims and higher losses, which could lead to higher insurance premiums, he said.