With an eye-watering repair bill of over $13 billion anticipated, the cost of recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle looks set to match that which followed the Canterbury earthquakes.
Beginning with infrastructure repairs, housing rebuilds are next on the priority list for the recovery phase of the natural disaster, which saw infrastructure flatted, hundreds of homes destroyed, and families displaced.
Following the severe flooding that came from record rainfall across the North Island in January which topped 400% of the usual monthly amount in some places, summer 2023 will be remembered as one of the worst weather periods in our history. But with the rapid destruction of so many buildings, homes, roads and possessions, the initial phase of rescue and recovery has turned to repair and rebuild. And what a rebuild this is; one that will undoubtedly take decades.
Cyclone-affected businesses have received over $75 million in support packages, with grants of up to a maximum of $40,000 per business, to be distributed by local organisations in affected regions.
Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson said, “The priority has been to get businesses back up and running as quickly as possible from the impact of the cyclone, working through the local agencies on the ground who know their area best.
“Demand for grants has been strong, with applications to the local providers managing the funding exceeding the $50 million allocated.” Applications closed in late April.
Government response to date includes:
- An initial $250 million for Waka Kotahi and local councils to assess and fix roads
- $74 million for affected farmers and growers to clean up and re-establish their businesses
- $75 million for businesses with immediate costs and clean-up – to be distributed by local delivery partners in the affected regions
- $5 million to Mayoral Relief Funds
- More than $65.8 million in Civil Defence Payments
- Inquiry announced into forestry slash and land use after Cyclone Gabrielle
- A new Recovery Visa created to help bring in additional specialist workers
- Temporary Accommodation Service activated in affected regions
- Cyclone Gabrielle Appeal Fund launched along with a special Lotto Draw on Saturday 18 March
- $15 million short-term relief package to support Māori communities
- A further $17.5 million to support communities and community providers
- $3.25 million to support the immediate mental wellbeing needs of people impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle
- $15 million for councils to remove rubbish
A Cyclone Taskforce was set up at the end of March, chaired by Sir Brian Roche, to align locally led recovery plans with Government and private sector.
The Government, via the Cyclone Taskforce, continues to work with local government and insurance companies to build a picture of high-risk areas following Cyclone Gabrielle and January’s floods.
Robertson said, “We are committed to helping people and businesses recover from the cyclone. The way we do that will change as we shift from the response to the recovery phase will change. We will continue to closely monitor the needs of local communities and work with local agencies, iwi and councils as we move from response to the recovery and rebuild from these extreme weather events.”
Updated guidance has been provided to support remediation and repair work following weather damage. There are quick guides available on building consent exemptions, slope stability, plasterboard damage and more, available at the link below. All are designed to be read in conjunction with existing guidance from local building consent authorities and insurance companies.
“The Cyclone Taskforce, led by Sir Brian Roche, has been working with insurance companies to undertake an assessment of high-risk areas so we can understand the scale of impact and what this means for re-building,” Robertson said.
“We also understand that views within a community about the future are not always the same. Some people want to be able to rebuild straight away, others are wary about future threats and the resilience of infrastructure,” said Robertson.
“This is why it is important the local community is part of the decision-making process and is kept informed all the way through. I have asked the Cyclone Recovery Unit to work closely with local government and recovery agencies to ensure that we are making information available in a timely and clear manner. Again, how this is done will be different in each community, but we know we need to give regular updates and opportunities for input.
“It is important at this time to highlight some issues that can cause confusion or stress. First, having a red or yellow sticker on your property does not necessarily mean that a location will be deemed high-risk or that the land can’t be rebuilt upon. These are assessments of immediate safety risks at the location, not future risks of flooding or viability of the land.
“That means we can’t simply use that assessment for this process, we’d get the wrong answers for affected people and property. That’s why we are working with the insurance sector and local councils to get the best outcome,” Robertson said.
A range of potential responses will be considered for the results of assessments, he said. “Managed retreat (ie. not rebuilding in the area) is one possibility, but so are other resilience measures, including building or enhancing stopbanks, changing the structure or location of buildings or building in a different way.”
The Government introduced the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill to ensure the recovery and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle is streamlined and efficient with unnecessary red tape removed.
The legislation, similar to that passed following the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes, modifies existing legislation in order to remove constraints on recovery.
“We are only just at the start of the recovery from these devastating weather events,” Robertson said. “While we have already provided significant resources through the response – affected regions should rest assured that the Government will continue to work closely with them as the rebuild and recovery begins in earnest.”
To check on the latest building work consent developments and updates on flood and cyclone-related repair work, visit www.building.govt.nz
