The Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Joint Committee says it fully accepts all of the findings of the Independent Review into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle.
The review was released yesterday by former Police Commissioner Mike Bush and found the cyclone “overwhelmed officials” tasked with disaster response.
More than 70 recommendations have been made by the review team.
The Joint Committee confirmed its commitment to an overhaul of the region’s approach to emergency management, and to working with central Government, Iwi, local communities, and business leaders to ensure the recommendations are used wherever possible to strengthen the readiness and response capabilities for the future.
A statement said the Committee would do everything possible to ensure meaningful change occurs as a result of the Independent Review.
The review also found the current national emergency management system was not fit for purpose.
Central Hawke’s Bay and areas along the Hawke’s Bay coast have moved to a Prohibited Fire Season.
The Prohibited Season means no fires can be lit in the open air, and all previously issued permits have been cancelled.
Fire & Emergency NZ spokesman Nigel Hall says these areas have dried out rapidly and there is no significant long-term rain forecast in the next 10 days.
He says with hot and strong windy conditions forecast to continue, a wildfire will start more easily, spread faster and be more difficult to control.
The rest of Central Hawke’s Bay, and Tararua District, will remain in a Restricted Fire Season, with the exception of eastern parts of Tararua, which is in a Prohibited Season.
Full details are available on the website www.checkitsalright.nz.
A Strong Wind Watch is in effect for Tararua District this morning.
The Watch covers the period from 11 o’clock last night until 11 o’clock this morning.
Metservice says west to northwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.
The Central Hawke’s Bay branch of Red Cross have thanked the public for their support during the organisations Annual Appeal held last Friday.
Raffles were sold outside local supermarkets New World Waipukurau and Countdown, as well as Paper Plus.
The winners were : Cheryl Duckett, who won the $200 New World voucher; M Forrest the $200 Waipawa Butchery voucher; and Jennie won the $200 Caltex petrol voucher.
Golf’s annual Mona Hunter Trophy Tournament was played for last week at the Waipukurau Golf Course.
Waipukurau Golf Club Secretary, Sandy Pepper, said ladies representing Hastings, Napier, and Waipukurau gathered to contest the trophy.
She said this is an annual event however was cancelled in 2023 due to Cyclone Gabrielle, and during Covid-19.
The trophy has been contested by the three clubs since 1959 and represents the memory of Mona Hunter who was a member of all three clubs.
Sandy Pepper said her love for the sport and her contribution to the game, and the clubs to which she belonged, is still very much admired to this day.
Waipukurau won the trophy with 35.26 stableford points, Napier was runner up with 35.0 and Hastings with 34.55 The Individual best stableford went to Judy Farquarhasen from Hastings with 43 points; followed by Margaret Evens from Napier with 42 points and Waipukurau’s Sue Gray with 41 points.