Natural Disasters
Protecting taonga in the wake of a quake
After a 7.8 earthquake hit Kaikoura in 2016, Darran Kerei-Keepa (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kuri) worked with archaeologists on the delicate process of rescuing artefacts and koiwi from the coastal slips. Audio
Civil Defence boss who was on leave during Cyclone Gabrielle resigns
Residents have been calling for Ian Macdonald's resignation for 16 months.
'Nothing has changed': Warning over NZ emergency response
Despite years of attempts to set one up, New Zealand is still no closer to a disaster coordination system.
Resident fears further flooding as river mouth problems go unfixed
A damning review has laid bare the regional council's failures before a deadly storm. Nearly 18 months on, "nothing has changed". Audio
Hawke's Bay residents fear future floods
Hawke's Bay residents fear if another cyclone hits the region, the flooding in Esk Valley will be just as devastating as it was during Cyclone Gabrielle because problems at the river mouth haven't… Audio
Wairoa mayor not surprised by scathing review of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council's flood protections during Cyclone Gabrielle
Wairoa's mayor, Craig Little, says he was not surprised by a scathing review of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council's flood protections during Cyclone Gabrielle. Little spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
Hawke's Bay locals support findings of review into flood protection
Hawke's Bay locals affected by Cyclone Gabrielle are backing the findings of a review into the Regional Council's flood protection measures. Whirinaki resident Louise Parsons spoke to Charlotte Cook.
…NZ less prepared for climate disasters due to NIWA cuts
NIWA has cut climate science to the bone and set New Zealand up to be worse prepared for future climate disasters. Political reporter Anneke Smith has more. Audio
Wairoa floods: 'I'm stuck with my house'
Rawinia Harker's home was hit hard during Cyclone Gabrielle, but was hit even worse in last month's flood.
Only luck stopped people dying in Wairoa flood - mayor
If the flood had hit at 1am, "there would have been some body bags", mayor says. Audio
Wairoa clean up continues one month after devastating floods
A month on from the Wairoa's devastating floods and the town's mayor says it was only luck they didn't need "body bags". Ashleigh McCaull reports. Audio
Magnitude 4.1 quake hits southern Hawke's Bay
The moderate earthquake struck within 5km of Pōrangahau on Sunday morning.
Plucky Lucky, the pig that outswam the floods of Cyclone Gabrielle
As three metres of floodwater swept through a rural property, a plucky pig swam against the torrent, desperately trying to survive. Audio
New Zealand's reinsurance problem
Parliament's Finance and Expenditure Committee has been warned that New Zealand's recent history of major natural disasters has made global reinsurers reassess the country's risk profile. Audio
Council faces legal action over Wairoa flooding
A Wairoa business owner is taking the Hawke's Bay Regional Council to court after last month's flooding in the town. Audio
More than 100 people still out of homes after Wairoa flooding
As the clean up continues, anger is simmering about how the disaster was allowed to happen.
Mayor calls for Civil Defence levy to help with ‘huge cost’ of disasters
Could a levy help fund local Civil Defence responses?
Hawke's Bay horticultural recovery requires millions more - report
A consultancy report updates the estimates done shortly after Cyclone Gabrielle, dropping the initial budget by about a quarter of a million dollars.
Wairoa housing help scheme launches
A service to help flood-affected Wairoa residents with housing came into force on Tuesday.
Wairoa to receive another recovery funding boost
The government is giving the Wairoa community another 500-thousand dollars to help it recover from last week's devastating flooding. The Wairoa river flooded more than 400 properties as heavy rain… Audio
