Cyclone Gabrielle inquest: Families urge focus on ‘real people’ lost in Hawke’s Bay

Jane Glover, who is representing the families of those who died, questioning Ken Cooper during the Cyclone Gabrielle Coroner's Inquest. Photo / RNZ, Alexa Cook

By Alexa Cook of RNZ

A lawyer for the families of 13 people who died in Hawke’s Bay as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle has urged witnesses in the coroner’s court to remember the “real people” who died, and not take a defensive stance when giving evidence.

The lawyer representing the families of those who died, Jane Glover, named each of the victims in her opening remarks, and said this is about those “real people”.

“Each of whom was deeply loved and all of whom are deeply grieved.

“The families sincerely hope that all interested parties will take a responsible and human centred approach, as opposed to a defensive or unnecessarily legalistic stance,” she said.

Among the 33 witnesses taking the stand over the next two weeks is Ian Macdonald, the former Hawke’s Bay’s Civil Defence group controller who resigned a year ago. Other witnesses include MetService, Fire and Emergency, police and Chris Dolley, who is in charge of the region’s flood scheme operations, management and river-level monitoring.

During the three-week inquest, Coroner Erin Woolley will examine how Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence prepared for the cyclone, what and how warnings were issued, and the operational emergency response, which includes search and rescue efforts for those who died.

She told the court this morning that she offered her condolences to everyone who died, and also warned the families that the inquest will seem procedural at times.

“Please be reassured that each of those 19 people will be in the forefront of my mind as we hear that evidence,” she said.

Coroner Woolley said she was aware that being in a courtroom was not a “normal environment” for many people, and what was due to be covered over the coming three weeks could be confronting.

“The evidence you hear may be distressing to you ... if anyone feels distressed about what they are hearing please feel free to leave the courtroom and take breaks as you need.

“I also wish to acknowledge the ongoing effects of those weather events on the community, particularly here in Hawke’s Bay. There are many people who were displaced from their homes and continue to live with the emotional and psychological effects of the events,” she said.

Over the next few weeks, the coroner will hear evidence about the circumstances of all 13 Hawke’s Bay deaths and establish the facts around what happened to each person and any relevant issues.

“In my role as coroner, I do have the ability to make adverse comments about a person or an organisation, but it is not my role to find anyone legally responsible for a death, or cast blame,” said Woolley.

However, the coroner can make recommendations or comments aimed at reducing other deaths in future.

The coroner's court for the Cyclone Gabrielle inquest. Photo / RNZ, Alexa Cook

Fire and Emergency: ‘I was concerned’

The first witness giving evidence was Ken Cooper from Fire and Emergency. He has 25 years of experience as a firefighter in New Zealand, and as the district commander for Hawke’s Bay, was the central team leader for Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) during Cyclone Gabrielle.

Cooper and a team of USAR workers were in Tairāwhiti when Cyclone Gabrielle hit, as that area was expected to be the worst-impacted. However, later, on February 15, he was transferred back to Hawke’s Bay.

When asked by Glover about the decision-making he saw there in regards to evacuating residents earlier, Cooper said in hindsight, an emergency alert could have been issued sooner when rainfall estimates were updated and rivers were rapidly rising.

“I would have expected there to be a conversation with the group, civil defence and emergency partners, about issuing a local emergency,” said Cooper.

Glover asked Cooper about if he was in the liaison role, and saw the data coming in on river levels, what would he have done.

“I would have issued an emergency management alert,” answered Cooper.

On his arrival into Hawke’s Bay, USAR teams were carrying out assessments of buildings in the worst hit areas. Cooper told the court he was worried about properties not being searched properly as it was done “at pace” and using a paper system.

“I was concerned about the high-level nature of these assessments in the Esk Valley and the fact they weren’t recorded in our dashboard,” said Cooper.

So he requested another round of assessments to ensure nothing was missed, and to better document the extent of damage.

Ken Cooper was the central team leader for Urban Search and Rescue during Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo / Supplied

Cooper described to the court some of the challenges and biohazard risks for the search and rescue teams, such as 2m deep silt filled with sewerage and animals that had died in the flooding.

“The extreme heat dried up the silt and accelerated the decomposition of the dead livestock, we had to be aware of the dust stirred up during the response efforts,” he said.

Cooper also explained there was an added challenge of asbestos in some buildings, and they had to use asbestos detection equipment.

When comparing the different emergency responses in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay that he experienced, he said it was clear that Gisborne was more organised.

“There was certainly a higher level of preparedness in Tairāwhiti.

“He said there was an established emergency operation centre that was well resourced, they were monitoring the weather, they had cameras set up on bridges and they had all the experts in the room.

The Hikuwai Bridge was one of many in Tairawhiti that were wiped out in the cyclone. Photo / RNZ, Alexa Cook

In his more than two hours on the witness stand, Cooper looked emotional as he addressed the families who lost loved ones.

“I’m not sure my words will help with any of the grieving, but I would hope my words help with the understanding of Fire and Emergency in Hawke’s Bay.

“People join Fire and Emergency to help the community, to save life and prevent damage to property ... so we feel the burden too,” he said.

- RNZ