Latest news with #HawkesBayRegionalCouncil
RNZ News
01-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Cyclone Gabrielle inquest: Council opposed red weather warning
A red severe weather warning was only issued for Hawke's Bay on the day the cyclone made landfall. Photo: Supplied / Dawson Bliss MetService could have upgraded weather warnings for Hawke's Bay to red the day before Cyclone Gabrielle hit in early 2023 - but faced opposition from the regional council, according to the agency's chief meteorologist. The first phase of the inquest into the deaths of 19 people in the storm and Auckland floods is focusing on the warnings given to the public, and the emergency response. The weather forecaster issued a red severe weather warning for Hawke's Bay on 13 February, the day the cyclone made landfall. Chief meteorologist Chris Noble said MetService wanted to issue the warning the day before but Hawke's Bay Regional Council was opposed, based on confidence in its flood modelling. "One thing we've learned through this event is that red warnings are significant beyond just the flood modelling that might feed into that discussion and ultimately it's MetService's decision whether to go red or not." Noble said MetService's severe weather team had discussed upgrading to a red warning with the council's hydrology team on the morning of Sunday 12 February, ahead of its first issue of warnings about 10am that day. "The hydrologists were opposed to a red warning being issued, citing high confidence in their flood modelling which indicated no major concerns." MetService is tasked with communicating weather forecasts and warnings but does not undertake flood modelling. It upgraded the orange warning for the region from orange to red on Monday 13 February at 3.15pm. "I cannot say exactly what changed other than acknowledging the event was underway so the meteorologist would have been monitoring in real time... but I can't say for certain what led to that change from orange to red." Noble said in hindsight, MetService should have issued the red warning a day earlier, on the morning of 12 February. "It's definitely our preference that everyone agrees that it is a good idea to issue a red warning because of the significant impacts that we do understand it will have within communities," he said. "I would say this is probably touching on one of the biggest learnings for us from these events that ultimately, MetService has that decision to make and should make it if necessary, even if the other party doesn't agree." Matthew Mortimer-Wang, the counsel assisting the coroner, asked if there was enough information to justify a red weather warning. Noble said red warnings did not have a technical threshold of rainfall because they were designed to alert people to weather's extreme impact on their region and were linked to flood assessments. "It places everyone in a difficult position if those models don't adequately capture the intensity of an event at a specific location," he said. Hawke's Bay was one of the cyclone's worst-hit regions but there were no alerts or warnings before the Esk River burst its banks, flooding the entire valley in the early hours of 14 February. There have since been multiple inquiries into the actions of authorities before and during the cyclone. All of the investigations found failures in New Zealand's emergency management system. The various reports made more than 100 recommendations, including the creation of an early warning system for the public. The inquest on Tuesday heard how councils use a range of different information to predict flooding. Counsel assisting the families of the deceased Jane Glover asked why MetService believed the different flood forecasting systems were a "serious vulnerability". Noble said a range of agencies, MetService, NIWA and councils all owned weather stations but there were restrictions on sharing that data with one another. He also said the way in which the 16 regional councils develop forecast and model future flooding varied. "Across the country there's an uneven playing field for how flooding is forecast and modelled, we're aware that councils all have their own processes and that various councils will use different types of rainfall information to inform their flood prediction and their warnings," Noble said. "What we're really calling out there is a better linked up system that's using the same inputs to the warnings with the expertise feeding through to the flood modelling." Noble said that would be "advantageous across all of New Zealand, independent of the size of the council or their ability to pay for additional information". At the time of the cyclone, he said Hawke's Bay Regional Council used one single model from MetService for its flood modelling, while in other parts of the country NIWA assisted other councils with their flood predictions using a model different to that of MetService's. "It's just an example of how things are done differently in different regions and I think it would be a stronger system if the playing field was levelled and we all had a well integrated system using the same information right from the rainfall to the warnings to the flooding prediction itself." NIWA manager for climate, atmosphere and hazards Nava Fedaeff started to give evidence late Tuesday afternoon, about the data the institute provides about the weather and potential flooding. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research is a Crown Research Institute that as of this month, has merged with GNS Science to become Earth Sciences New Zealand. The inquest continues on Wednesday and hearings are set down for about six weeks, split between Auckland and Hastings. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
13-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Bus-Wheelchair Crash In Taradale
Press Release – Hawkes Bay Regional Council Go Bus, the operator, has its manager on-site now to operationally manage the incident. Regional Council manages the bus service in Hawke's Bay. There was a serious accident shortly after 2 p.m. this afternoon between a GoBay bus operating Route 13, on Lee Road in Taradale, and the occupant of a wheelchair. Emergency services are present and the injuries are serious. Go Bus, the operator, has it's manager on-site now to operationally manage the incident. Regional Council manages the bus service in Hawke's Bay. Route 13 buses are suspended at the moment as a result, and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience. We will update with more information as it comes to hand.
RNZ News
13-06-2025
- RNZ News
Bus collides with person in wheelchair seriously injuring them
A GoBay bus was involved in the accident. File picture Photo: Supplied / Hawke's Bay Regional Council A person has been seriously injured after a bus in Hawke's Bay collided with a wheelchair. Hawke's Bay Regional Council which manages the bus service said it happened at about 2.30pm on Friday and involved a GoBay bus on Lee Road in Taradale. Emergency services were present, they said. Route 13 buses have been suspended. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Former Hawke's Bay council chair fumes over Heretaunga pollution doubt
Former council chair Rex Graham claims this photo shows smoke from orchard burnoffs over the Heretaunga Plains. Photo: Supplied/Rex Graham Former Hawke's Bay Regional Council chair Rex Graham has a burning desire to stop orchardists from coating the Heretaunga Plains in smoke every winter. Graham sends regular photos of smoke from orchard burnoffs drifting over the Hastings and Havelock North airsheds to the council he once chaired, but he says he's starting to feel like it doesn't want to know about it, let alone do something with them. Recently, a council spokesperson suggested his photos possibly showed "fog". "While photos can be useful, our first step would be to determine if the substance in the image is smoke - not fog or something else," the spokesperson told Hawke's Bay Today . "If it is smoke, we can then identify the source and assess whether any rules under the Resource Management Plan - like burning prohibited materials - are being breached." A pollution response team thoroughly surveyed the Hastings airshed the day the photo was taken (22 May) and found little evidence of any breaches. Graham said the more he thought about "this cynical and condescending response from the regional council staff, the more it disturbs me". "They are the regulators, and yet they do not want to understand or deal with the issue," he said. "They are no different from climate-change deniers. "We will never stop this pollution, if this attitude and arrogance prevails." Council policy & regulation general manager Katrina Brunton said differentiating smoke from fires or fog in early mornings from long distances would be difficult. "We would investigate alleged fires, if we have addresses to respond to - otherwise, it would be difficult to pinpoint the location. "Following the receipt of these or similar photos, enforcement officers did an extensive search of a large area of the Heretaunga Plans, attempting to locate the source, but were unable." In 2023/24, the council received approximately 80 burning complaints during winter and more than 70 infringement fines were issued. Orchard burnoffs are permitted under the Regional Air Quality rules, but they must meet specific conditions. When the council is notified of a burn, it investigates. If it's found to breach the rules, the response follows a set process, starting with education and engagement, and escalating to enforcement, where needed. "It's a confounding contradiction that the law forbids fires within the airsheds, except for orchard burnoffs, which are by far the worst sources of air pollution," Graham said. A spokesperson said the council relied heavily on information from the public, as well as from its staff, who may observe smoke while working in the field. "These reports are critical in helping our pollution response team act quickly." Graham said all the photos he sent to the council show smoke from fires, some of which are outside the airshed. "In all cases, this smoke ended up in the Hastings and Napier airsheds," he said. Medical Officer of Health and public health physician Dr Nicholas Jones said health officials in Hawke's Bay worked with the council and supported its 'We breathe what you burn' campaign. "Mr Graham has contacted public health to share his concerns about illegal burning," Dr Jones said. "Any fires burning inside the airshed - or when smoke from a fire outside the airshed results in pollution within the airshed - are of public health concern, particularly during cooler winter months, when smoke can become trapped closer to the ground. "Smoke and pollutants from fires can cause several health problems, including breathing difficulties, coughing, shortness of breath, or eye, nose and throat irritation. People most sensitive to smoke are those with heart or lung conditions, pregnant people, young children and the elderly." Graham said the council pollution response team generally did a great job, but they could not get to all the fires, which happened every day and ere spread over a large area. "One of the challenges is that it's difficult to see this smoke when you are under it, but the fine particles within this smoke are dangerous to our community, which is being subjected to this pollution every day. "Growers and lifestyles have options, and many of them use them, but sadly, we still have some idiots who have total disregard for our communities' well-being." An airshed is a legally designated air-quality management area. In New Zealand, regional councils and unitary authorities have identified areas to be managed as airsheds for the national environmental standards for air quality. Most airsheds may have levels of pollutants that exceed the national environmental standards for air quality. Some airsheds are also identified based on factors like the number of people living there now or in the future, unique weather patterns and geography, and local air emissions like local industrial activity, which need to be specifically considered and managed. HBRC says airshed rules exist because smoke from backyard fires in urban areas - although it may seem minor - adds up fast. On cold, still days, it lingers in neighbourhoods and affects air quality. "If everyone lit backyard fires, it would quickly become a serious pollution issue. These rules help protect our whānau and community from the harmful health effects of smoke, especially in winter, when it gets trapped close to the ground." - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Environment Court Confirms 19 Outstanding Water Bodies In Hawke's Bay
Press Release – Hawkes Bay Regional Council A water body that is classified as outstanding holds a cultural, spiritual, recreational, landscape, natural form and character, or ecological values that are conspicuous, eminent, or remarkable within Hawkes Bay. The Environment Court has confirmed that 19 of Hawke's Bay's water bodies meet the high threshold to be classified as 'outstanding', following appeals on Proposed Plan Change 7 (Outstanding Water Bodies) to the Hawke's Bay Regional Resource Management Plan. This outcome concludes the plan change process and ensures that the region's most exceptional water bodies – including aquifers, lakes, wetlands, rivers and estuaries – will receive the highest level of protection moving forward. A water body that is classified as 'outstanding' holds a cultural, spiritual, recreational, landscape, natural form and character, or ecological values that are conspicuous, eminent, or remarkable within Hawke's Bay. Hawke's Bay Regional Council Group Manager Policy & Regulation Katrina Brunton says, 'These are exceptional places. They stand out as the best of the best, and this decision confirms they'll be recognised and safeguarded for future generations with the health and wellbeing of these water bodies prioritised.' 'While not every water body has been classified as outstanding, many others are highly valued by local communities and tāngata whenua. We remain committed to improving the health and mauri of all water bodies across Hawke's Bay.' List of Outstanding Water Bodies in Hawke's Bay Outstanding water body Outstanding values Heretaunga Plains Aquifer System Cultural or spiritual values (whakapapa o te wai, wāhi taonga, wairua, mauri) Lake Poukawa and Pekapeka Swamp Cultural or spiritual values; Ecology (habitat for aquatic native birds) Lakes Rotoroa and Rototuna (the Kaweka Lakes) Natural character (Lake Rotoroa and Lake Rototuna) Habitat for indigenous aquatic plant community (Lake Rototuna); Habitat for native fish community (Lake Rotoroa) Lake Tūtira (including Lake Waikōpiro) Cultural or spiritual values Lake Waikaremoana Ecology, specifically habitat for aquatic native plant communities; Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Natural character; Recreation (central focus of a Great Walk) Lake Whakakī – Te Paeroa Lagoon – Wairau Lagoon and Wetlands Ecology (habitat for high natural diversity of aquatic native birds) Lake Whatumā Cultural or spiritual values; Ecology (habitat for aquatic native birds, particularly Australasian bittern) Mangahouanga Stream Geology (presence of dinosaur fossils) The Mohaka River upstream of Willow Flat Natural character; Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Recreation, including trout angling, kayaking and rafting; Trout fishery (Mohaka River mainstem and in the tributaries upstream of State Highway 5 bridge) Ngamatea East Swamp Natural character; Ecology (habitat for indigenous plant populations Ngaruroro River & Waitangi Estuary Upstream of the Whanawhana cableway Natural character; Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Rainbow trout habitat; Recreation (trout angling, whitewater rafting, kayaking); Habitat for native aquatic birds (particularly whio) Downstream of the Whanawhana cableway Habitat for native aquatic birds (including banded dotterel, black fronted dotterel) Downstream of the Whanawhana cableway to Fernhill Natural form and character (braided river) Waitangi Estuary Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga, mauri Ruataniwha Plains Aquifer System Cultural or spiritual values (including whakapapa o te wai) Taruarau River Natural character, especially the gorge; Recreation (whitewater rafting and kayaking) Pōrangahau River and Estuary downstream of the Beach Road Bridge Cultural or spiritual values; Ecology (habitat for native aquatic birds) Te Hoe River Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Habitat for aquatic native birds (particularly whio) Te Karamū River Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga, whakapapa o te wai, nohoanga/pāhi Te Whanganui-a-Orotū (Ahuriri Estuary) Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga; Aquatic bird habitat; Native fish habitat Tukituki River downstream of SH50 bridge to the sea, including the estuary Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga for the estuary Ecology (habitat for native aquatic birds, particularly in the lower river) Mainstem of the Tūtaekurī River upstream of the SH50 Bridge Cultural or spiritual values
