February 28 2023
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Prime minister’s praise for Kaipara u by Andy Bryenton & Amy Fifita
Prime minister Chris Hipkins visited Dargaville last Friday as part of a tour seeking to witness firsthand Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastation, and thank emergency services. Mr Hipkins commended the first responders who gathered to meet him alongside councillors and Kaipara’s mayor. He also had words of praise for the average citizens who had rallied together to get through the disaster. “This year has unleashed a series of extreme weather events unparalleled in New Zealand’s recent history. I want to acknowledge the communities, families and businesses that have suffered enormous loss and hardship. My thoughts are with you, and our government will continue to support you,” said Mr Hipkins. “A very warm thank you to all of you. I know how much of yourselves you would have put into the response in the last few weeks and how much your own families would have sacrificed to do the things that you did to do what needed to be done.” Mr Hipkins acknowledged that Kaipara has proven to be a very resilient and community-spirited region, noting that adversity often provides an opportunity for that spirit to shine. “It is climate change up close whether we are ready for it or not. Northland is an incredibly resilient region, and it is one where people have come together as a community. The degree of caring I have seen has been heart-warming, and that is the story I have seen all around the country. “It is too early to say what the fiscal responses will be. There is a focus on getting the immediate needs in place here and now and building back more resiliently. There is support available now through the Ministry of Primary Industries
p Mayor Craig Jepson, KDC chief executive Jason Marris and prime minister Chris Hipkins — nothing but praise and respect for the community spirit of Kaipara
for farmers who experienced significant damage to crops and farms.” Mr Hipkins also praised those who coordinated the response, including many Kaipara District Council staff. Even Mayor Jepson was on the convoys taking aid to remote settlements. “The recovery began on Tuesday, even as other predicted aspects of the state of emergency were being planned for,” says Councillor Gordon Lambeth, who has the role of Civil Defence coordinator for the KDC. The councillor spent much of the disaster liaising with fire, police, armed forces, surf life savers and Civil Defence teams, and citizens who contributed machinery and muscle power to the relief effort. According to Mr Lambeth, while the weather caused chaos, a pre-
planned response was followed through calmly by first responders and followed up by maintenance teams working to restore power, clear debris and fix infrastructure. “There was a plan in place, and we knew when things were going to happen, so we could react to them as they unfolded,” said Councillor Lambeth. The prime minister ended on a note of optimism for the future, and the inevitable rebuild. “I provide you with reassurance that we are going to continue to be with you through that process. We are not just here for the emergency response; we are here for the rebuild afterwards as well. We know that there is a lot of rebuilding to be done. Some of it is not always apparent on day one,” he said. ¢
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