GDC quick to accept $204m cyclone support deal

Anzac Park in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. The cyclone impacted New Zealand from February 11 to 17, 2023, with a national state of emergency being declared on February 14, 2023.

Gisborne district councillors have voted to accept a Government cyclone recovery package to the tune of $204 million with little debate on Wednesday.

Last month, Gisborne District Council put the all-or-nothing government offer out for a two-week public consultation, with the result being an “overwhelming” message from the community to accept it.

On Wednesday, councillors moved to accept an offer which was backed by more than 90 percent of respondents.

Because of the cost-sharing nature of the deal, the council will still need to stump up $21 million of its own money, meaning rates will be impacted by 1 percent for 2024/25.

That issue was raised by sections of the community, the council said, as well as concerns about a perceived lack of capability and capacity for the organisation and its contractors to undertake the required work.

But those in favour talked about the importance of “getting on with recovery”, and the need to accept the offer so that infrastructure funding could be unlocked.

Council chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann described the short consultation period as “not ideal by any means”, but expressed gratitude to council staff for pulling it together quickly.

Deputy mayor Josh Wharehinga acknowledged the families who were doing it tough after their homes had been categorised following the cyclone, saying those parties had been forthright in their discussions with the council.

“I really want to acknowledge the community that turned out and had those robust engagements because they threw a lot of curly questions at us, and it was great because these were questions that a lot of the community kind of had in their head. And we had those open and honest conversations with them.”

The funding package will be used to help buy out properties that have been labelled Category 3 because of an unacceptable risk of future flooding and loss of life.

It will also be used for flood mitigation projects and regional transport improvements.

The council has previously put the total repair bill for Tairāwhiti at more than $1 billion.

A report prepared for the council’s Wednesday meeting showed 221 people provided written feedback on the funding package, along with 150 people engaging at hui, online or at the A&P Show.