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18. February 2023 17:57
RNZ Live
National Emergency Management Agency advice:

  • Floodwaters may be full of sewage, chemicals and other hazardous materials and should be avoided as much as possible. 
  • Floodwater can carry bacteria that can contaminate food.
  • Protect yourself when cleaning up flood water and mud by wearing a properly fitted P2- or N95-rated mask, goggles, gloves, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and gumboots or work shoes.
  • Throw away all food and drinking water that has come in contact with floodwater.
  • Do not eat garden produce if the soil has been flooded.
  • In power outages use torches instead of candles, and only use camp cookers and BBQs outdoors.
  • Conserve water where you are advised to.
  • Check the location of pipes and cables before you dig; see Chorus Before you dig website and beforeudig.co.nz for all utilities.
  • The best way to assist in the response is through financial donations and NOT through donated goods.
  • Keep up to date with advice from your local CDEM Group or from civildefence.govt.nz 
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18. February 2023 17:56
RNZ Live
What you need to know: 
  • Residents in Gisborne can use water again following a fix to the treatment works, but they should still try to conserve it.
  • A national state of emergency has been declared. It is only the third in New Zealand's history.
  • Auckland, Northland, Tairāwhiti, Bay of Plenty, Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne, Waikato, Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki, Tararua, Napier and Hastings had already declared local states of emergency. 
  • Eleven people have been confirmed killed in the storm, including a child and two firefighters.
  • Hundreds are still without water or power in Gisborne.
  • Additional police officers will be arriving in Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti to help with recovery efforts.
  • And the navy's HMNZS Canterbury is on route to Hawke's Bay to help with aid.
  • Many rivers remain flooded with water levels dangerously high and police say people should stay away and not put themselves at risk.
  • More than 4500 people have been registered as uncontactable.
  • Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has warned the rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle will be enormous and lengthy. 
  • Want to help? Here's how.
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19. February 2023 07:09
RNZ Live
Thank you for following our live-blog today. We are wrapping up today's blog but will publish any important information or breaking news on our website.
Rolling, live coverage will be back tomorrow morning.
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19. February 2023 06:52
RNZ Live
The view of the Esk Valley from above, and the extent of the flood damage.
credit: Sally Murphy / RNZ
credit: Sally Murphy / RNZ
credit: Sally Murphy / RNZ
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19. February 2023 06:42
RNZ Live
PM Chris Hipkins on Government's response to Cyclone Gabrielle
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19. February 2023 06:41
RNZ Live
Drinking water in Hastings and Napier is safe, welfare in the Hawke's Bay remains a top priority, Hipkins says.

State Highway 2 between Gisborne and Wairoa is now open 24 hours a day for the public.

State Highway 38 is now open for utility vehicles only, and it's expected to reopen in the next few days for the public, allowing transit between Wairoa and the Bay of Plenty.

Cell coverage has been restored to Wairoa and water supply is safely operating, but a boil water notice remains in place.

The army has mobilised two 25-person emergency response teams to Wairoa and Hastings.

In Northland, some communities remain isolated, but contact has been made with most of these.

Transit across the region remains a problem, with stop-go operating in places along SH12, 14 and 15.

In Gisborne the main water treatment plant is now operating, however, there are still water use restrictions in place.

Water is being supplied by tanker to two west Auckland communities, and overnight  81 people were accommodated in the three Auckland CDCs.

State Highway 35 from Te Puia Springs to Tolaga Bay remains the only section of SH35 to remain closed. An alternative route is being worked on, but Tokomaru Bay could remain isolated for up to five more days.

Matawhero and Waipero Bay townships remain isolated."

SH35 Hikuai Bridge has been completely severed, with one side of the bridge snapped and the other hanging down into the river. A temporary replacement is being planned.

NEMA have deployed 60 Starlinks into the Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti Regions, 20 more are ready, and it's expected that there will be at least 100 Starlinks out in communities soon, providing much needed connections to the world.

The fibre connection and 4G cverage is up and running for the most part in Gisborne. But tele-communications companies are strongly urging people not to overuse the network at this point, capacity will be limited and it will take some time to get back to more normal levels of service.

Northland, Coromandel and Hawke's Bay are largely back online, with just a small number of sites being worked on.

Finally, the HMNZS Canterbury is due to leave Lyttelton tomorrow and is estimated to arrive in Napier on Tuesday. They'll be bringing equipment including 5 Bailey Bridges, 20 generators, 50 gas bottles and 120 emergency packs.
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19. February 2023 06:37
RNZ Live
To recap how things are looking now:
There are currently no weather warnings or watches in place for New Zealand.
Of the 28,000 homes still without power, the bulk are in Napier and Hastings. Up to 45 percent of Napier has now been connected, road access remains restricted but it is progressively opening up, the rail line has been badly damaged and will take some time to repair. Fuel supply is being replenished, but some spend limits remain in place to ensure that everyone can get what they need.
After almost a week without power in some areas stress levels are high, and the police are working to maintain law and order.

"I know how hard this is but I ask everyone to remain calm, everyone is working as hard as they can to get things back online."

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19. February 2023 06:36
RNZ Live
Hipkins says for far too long, New Zealand has underinvested in infrastructure and resilience, "and that has to change."
He says cabinet will meet tomorrow to consider further measures to support the recovery.
"This is going to be an ongoing process, we will get through this and, as a government, we will do what it takes to recover and rebuild. The usual systems and processes of Government are going to need to adapt to the extraordinary circumstances that we find ourselves in."
"If w're going to build back better and if we're going to build back quickly, some tough calls will need to be made and I'm absolutely committed to doing that."
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19. February 2023 06:18
RNZ Live
He says that, as a country, we have a steep mountain ahead of us and we will climb that together.

"Our attention over the past week has been focused on the initial emergency response, rescuing those stranded, restoring lifelines and removing hazards. In some areas that still remains very much the focus, in other areas though, recovery is starting to get underway.

 "As the shape of the damage and the need becomes clearer we'll be able to shape our response accordingly.

"We know that the  will come with a big price tag and we will have to once again reprioritise and refocus our efforts and our resources. We will build back better, but we will also need to build back more resilient than before."
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19. February 2023 06:17
RNZ Live
Hipkins was due to travel to Fiji on Thursday but has asked the Deputy PM Carmel Sepuloni to go instead.
"Our relationship with the Pacific is incredibly important and I'll be looking for opportunities to connect with Pacific Island leaders as soon as possible," Hipkins says.
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19. February 2023 06:16
RNZ Live
The United States and Australia - through the New Zealand Defence Force - have provided crucial satellite imagery products of the affected areas.
And we're in the final stages of working to accept an offer from the Australian Defence Force who will support the New Zealand Defence Force with a C-130 transport aircraft, air load teams to rig freight on the aircraft and environmental health staff to assist in analysing health risks.

All of this will be a great help and we thank Fiji and the United States as we thank Australia, Hipkins says.
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19. February 2023 05:57
RNZ Live
Their main focus will be on helping to contact those unaccounted for. 
"Today we've accepted an offer of support from Fiji - 10 personnel from their defence force, four fire authority crew and four national disaster management office officials are preparing to leave for NZ in the coming days."
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