LOCAL KNOWLEDGE PREVAILS

“The voices of the Wairoa community have been validated,” said Wairoa Mayor Craig Little.

“The independent government commissioned review of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s (HBRC) planning and management of the Wairoa River mouth and bar highlighted shortcomings – as our community said it would.”

The 66-page report, which was released in early September, by Bush International Consulting, was commissioned after the devastating June 26 event, which flooded hundreds of Wairoa properties.

Mr Little said that the Wairoa community had unwaveringly stated that the June 26 flooding was avoidable, and the independent report confirmed what everybody in Wairoa already knew.

This was further confirmed in a statement released by Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell who said the review “highlighted shortcomings around planning and management of the river mouth and bar and recognised the need for greater engagement from the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council with the Wairoa District Council and community on emergency preparedness”.

Key points from the report included:

• No operational plan for the ongoing management and maintenance of the Wairoa River mouth currently exists.
• To widen the (river) bar, weather and sea conditions need to be aligned, and it takes five to seven days. It is not possible to complete the mechanical digging and grading required at short notice when a flooding risk is imminent.
• Management decisions for the river mouth are made in Napier/Hastings by the HBRC, on the basis of infrequent physical inspections of the bar.
• The risks of remote management of the bar were well-known prior to this event.

Mr Little said the release of the independent government commissioned report coincided with the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council releasing three other reports relating to Wairoa River mouth management.
“These self-assessment style reports are not impartial, and we thank Mike Bush and his team for the independence their report has brought to this process, particularly considering the necessary short time frame.

Mr Little said at around the same time of the Bush report being released, other HBRC consultants’ reports were received, despite the regional council having had the reports for weeks. “We are undertaking a thorough review of these reports, taking advice and seeking input from those with local knowledge to compare the modelling with actual observations.

“The review identifies the need for a Management Plan which formalises the utilisation of Indigenous knowledge and Kaupapa Māori in the management of the Wairoa River and bar and the identification
of the need to better monitor the river both locally and remotely to identify trigger thresholds for action would be a huge step forward, particularly if the management plan is implemented alongside his other recommendations.”

Mr Little said the Council has concerns about the reports undertaken by the HBRC contracted consultants. “Once again, they have placed a lot of reliance on modelling of river and sea conditions and ignored local observations and knowledge.” Mayor Little said.

“The seas in the weeks leading up to the 26 June flood were not large and data we have obtained has confirmed that the maximum significant wave height in the five days leading up to the flood
between 21 June and 26 June were quite moderate, maxing out at around 1.2 m. The waves only started to increase from about midday on 25 June and, even at their peak, were only comparable to an annual event. There was plenty of time prior to the predicted rainfall for better management of the Wairoa River mouth.” Mr Little said.

“Work on opening the river mouth should have started much earlier, and this is one of the key findings of the independent report undertaken by Mike Bush.

“In the interim, we look forward to the implementation of an improved management regime as recommended by Mike Bush. We are keen to provide our institutional and local knowledge into how the
Wairoa River and the Wairoa River mouth can be best managed so as to protect our community.” Mayor Little said.

Mr Little said the report stated that locals were saddened by the apparent failure of HBRC to internalise the insights of prior experience and previous reviews. As with Gabrielle, they felt unheard and
isolated from wider support.

The report made a range of recommendations including that Senior Leaders at the HBRC need to prioritise their relationships with and communications to the Wairoa community and its leaders in order
to rebuild trust and thus enhance future resiliency. Above all, Wairoa locals, including iwi, must feel sincerely listened to, both in advance of and during events. Optimal local government, emergency management and environmental management outcomes are all best secured through positive and trust-based partnerships.

For the full report please click on the following link www.wairoadc.govt.nz/assets/Document-Library/Reports/2024.08.30-Final-report-Review-of-the-management-of-Wairoa-River-Bar-BIC.pdf

4 November 2024

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