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Almost 30,000 homes have no power and major supply chains have been disrupted – and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is also warning that more fatalities remain possible.
Prime Minister has fronted an update on the government’s response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Wellington late this afternoon.
Watch the government’s latest update here.
Hipkins said it was now seven days after the cyclone passed through and the true extent of the devastation and loss was becoming clearer with every passing day.
“Lives have been turned upside down, many people have seen their homes and all their possessions completely destroyed. Countless others have been displaced, tragically so far 11 people have lost their lives, and more fatalities remain possible.”
He said 28,000 homes remained without power.
“Telecommunications have been severely disrupted, fresh water is in short supply in some areas and roads have been badly damaged, limiting access to some areas and causing significant delays in others.”
He said supply chains had been disrupted and moving goods around had been “incredibly challenging”.
“Crops have been badly damaged, many completely destroyed.”
Earlier today, police confirmed two further deaths relating to the cyclone, bringing the total to 11.
Hipkins today paid tribute to emergency services and first responders, who had done New Zealand proud.
“Many have worked themselves to utter exhaustion. The stress and strain of the last week is clearly starting to show, and particularly in places where power and communications remains disrupted, we know that tensions can be high.”
He said nobody should underestimate the psychological toll this disaster was taking on some of our fellow Kiwis.
“The past week has pushed many to their limit, even more so given it comes on top of other weather events, the disruption of a global pandemic and too many other significant and disruptive challenges to mention – our resilience is being tested like never before.
“But as we’ve repeatedly seen in recent times, adversity brings out the best in Kiwis. We rally together and we support each other. We look out for our neighbours, we go the extra mile to protect the vulnerable, we share and we care. “
The Australian emergency responders announced on Friday they’re supporting Fire & Emergency NZ with a 27-person impact assessment team and Hipkins said 25 of them were already on the ground in the Hawke’s Bay, with two supporting the national co-ordination centre.
He said Aotearoa had also accepted an offer of support from Fiji – 10 personnel from their defence force, four fire authority crew and four national disaster management officials are preparing to leave for New Zealand in the coming days.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.
Photo: RNZ/ Nate McKinnon
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