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Scoop
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Government Supports Tairāwhiti Marae To Relocate To Safer Ground
Press Release – New Zealand Government The Marae Trustees of Puketawai, Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna, Okuri, Takip, and Rangatira Marae supported by their whnau and hap have made the difficult decision to relocate and re-establish their respective marae in new locations. Hon Mark Mitchell Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Five Tairāwhiti marae impacted by the North Island weather events of early 2023, are moving to safer locations with support from the Crown,' said Mark Mitchell, Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery and Tama Potaka, Minister for Māori Development. 'The Marae Trustees of Puketawai, Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna, Okuri, Takipū, and Rangatira Marae – supported by their whānau and hapū – have made the difficult decision to relocate and re-establish their respective marae in new locations. 'The local council designated these marae, as Category 3 – High Risk, and not safe to occupy because of unacceptable risk to life from future extreme weather. 'Each of the marae have accepted the Crown's support package and have acquired new sites to relocate to. The new sites are in close proximity within, or close to, their respective tribal boundaries,' says Mark Mitchell. 'The impact of the severe weather on the marae was devastating for the many whānau and hapū connected to these marae and their wider community. 'The decision to relocate is not an easy one and has come from the desire of the Marae Trustees to keep their marae, and their respective whānau, safe and secure, protecting the lives of those who might otherwise be at real risk from any future severe weather events.' Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka says relocating the individual marae will take time. 'We expect the relocation works, including the rebuild of wharenui and whare kai where required due to the damage, will take place over the next two or so years. For some of the marae, the project is a complete rebuild. 'Reaching this point is a significant milestone. Most importantly, it will provide affected whanau and hapu peace of mind, and will have the added benefit of creating opportunities for SMEs and jobs. This augments the growing construction capability on the East Coast as a result of the mahi at Toitū Tairāwhiti and others,' says Mr Potaka. Of the five marae three are located in the Uawa – Tolaga Bay area and the other two are in Te Karaka. 'The Crown is also working with two Kahungunu Marae, Tangoio and Petāne in Hawke's Bay with support packages available to both marae so they too can reestablish in safer locations. These marae were also designated, by their local council, as having an unacceptable risk to life.' A total of $136.215m, allocated from Budgets 23 and 24 will fund the entire Whenua Māori and Marae relocation Programme after North Island weather events. It includes the costs to relocate owners of 24 whenua Māori properties to safety as well as demolition of residential structures and covers some assistance to support affected sites of cultural significance, principally urūpa. 'The Crown recognises moving a marae requires careful navigation. This is not an easy journey, and we would like to thank the Marae Trustees for working with us to ensure the safety of people on marae,' Mr Potaka says. Notes: In all cases ownership of the whenua remains with the existing owners. The cost for each Marae relocation is commercially sensitive due to procurement undertakings. Geographic location of all Category 3 Marae in Tairāwhiti:
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
Government Supports Tairāwhiti Marae To Relocate To Safer Ground
Hon Mark Mitchell Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Minister for Māori Development Five Tairāwhiti marae impacted by the North Island weather events of early 2023, are moving to safer locations with support from the Crown,' said Mark Mitchell, Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery and Tama Potaka, Minister for Māori Development. 'The Marae Trustees of Puketawai, Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna, Okuri, Takipū, and Rangatira Marae – supported by their whānau and hapū – have made the difficult decision to relocate and re-establish their respective marae in new locations. 'The local council designated these marae, as Category 3 – High Risk, and not safe to occupy because of unacceptable risk to life from future extreme weather. 'Each of the marae have accepted the Crown's support package and have acquired new sites to relocate to. The new sites are in close proximity within, or close to, their respective tribal boundaries,' says Mark Mitchell. 'The impact of the severe weather on the marae was devastating for the many whānau and hapū connected to these marae and their wider community. 'The decision to relocate is not an easy one and has come from the desire of the Marae Trustees to keep their marae, and their respective whānau, safe and secure, protecting the lives of those who might otherwise be at real risk from any future severe weather events.' Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka says relocating the individual marae will take time. 'We expect the relocation works, including the rebuild of wharenui and whare kai where required due to the damage, will take place over the next two or so years. For some of the marae, the project is a complete rebuild. 'Reaching this point is a significant milestone. Most importantly, it will provide affected whanau and hapu peace of mind, and will have the added benefit of creating opportunities for SMEs and jobs. This augments the growing construction capability on the East Coast as a result of the mahi at Toitū Tairāwhiti and others,' says Mr Potaka. Of the five marae three are located in the Uawa - Tolaga Bay area and the other two are in Te Karaka. 'The Crown is also working with two Kahungunu Marae, Tangoio and Petāne in Hawke's Bay with support packages available to both marae so they too can reestablish in safer locations. These marae were also designated, by their local council, as having an unacceptable risk to life.' A total of $136.215m, allocated from Budgets 23 and 24 will fund the entire Whenua Māori and Marae relocation Programme after North Island weather events. It includes the costs to relocate owners of 24 whenua Māori properties to safety as well as demolition of residential structures and covers some assistance to support affected sites of cultural significance, principally urūpa. 'The Crown recognises moving a marae requires careful navigation. This is not an easy journey, and we would like to thank the Marae Trustees for working with us to ensure the safety of people on marae,' Mr Potaka says.
Otago Daily Times
02-05-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Response praised after Canterbury floods
The Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery has praised the community response to the severe weather over the last week. Christchurch and Banks Peninsula are still in a state of emergency after torrential rain hit the Canterbury region, while households across Wellington, Wairarapa, and Manawatū remain without power following a rare "threat to life" warning with the strongest wind in over a decade. "As a country, we've always had these weather events - particularly people in the South Island, they're used to water and rain. However, they are becoming more intense and severe," Mark Mitchell told Saturday Morning. "Communities are becoming more and more sensitive to that, and realising that as a country to strengthen our response and be more resilient, it's not just central government, local government or regional government, or our first responders - it's a whole of community response." Mitchell said he could see a difference between when he first became the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery to now. He said those in Canterbury had told him that there was good communication, and the Civil Defence teams had done a "very, very good job in terms of responding early to their needs". The local state of emergency has lifted for Selwyn, and Mitchell said the main concern was now the surface flooding, which was "starting to abate". "I'll be out checking, making sure that, first of all, residents are taken care of and they can identify clearly what needs to be done in terms of infrastructure and property damage. I'm on standby from central government to support once I've been able to identify that," Mitchell added. He also said power companies had been working "flat out" to restore power to households across Wellington, Wairarapa, and Manawatū. There was also work underway for a new Emergency Management Bill to replace the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, which Mitchell said was out of consultation. "I want to make that absolutely fit for purpose." Ferries operating again Meanwhile, the Interislander ferry Aratere was the first of the Cook Strait ferries away from Wellington this morning, heading for Picton. Interislander and Bluebridge ships were kept at their berths from Wednesday because of high swells from the southerly storm. Interislander says it is putting on additional sailings on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Bluebridge says it has added additional sailings to its schedule today. These are the 1.30 sailing this afternoon from Wellington and the 7.15 this evening from Picton.
RNZ News
02-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister praises community after Canterbury floods
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger provide an update on the flood recovery efforts in Canterbury. Photo: RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon The Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery has praised the community response to the severe weather over the last week. Christchurch and Banks Peninsula are still in a state of emergency after torrential rain hit the Canterbury region, while households across Wellington, Wairarapa, and Manawatū remain without power following a rare "threat to life" warning with the strongest wind in over a decade. "As a country, we've always had these weather events - particularly people in the South Island, they're used to water and rain. However, they are becoming more intense and severe," Mark Mitchell told Saturday Morning . "Communities are becoming more and more sensitive to that, and realising that as a country to strengthen our response and be more resilient, it's not just central government, local government or regional government, or our first responders - it's a whole of community response." Mitchell said he could see a difference between when he first became the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery to now. He said those in Canterbury had told him that there was good communication, and the Civil Defence teams had done a "very, very good job in terms of responding early to their needs". The local state of emergency has lifted for Selwyn, and Mitchell said the main concern was now the surface flooding, which was "starting to abate". "I'll be out checking, making sure that, first of all, residents are taken care of and they can identify clearly what needs to be done in terms of infrastructure and property damage. I'm on standby from central government to support once I've been able to identify that," Mitchell added. He also said power companies had been working "flat out" to restore power to households across Wellington, Wairarapa, and Manawatū. There was also work underway for a new Emergency Management Bill to replace the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, which Mitchell said was out of consultation. "I want to make that absolutely fit for purpose." Meanwhile, the Cook Strait Ferries are expected to be running again today after large swells cancelled services for the last couple of days. Data from the Marine Traffic ship tracker shows Interislander ferry the Aratere is en route from Wellington to Picton. Bluebridge's first sailing is meanwhile expected to be later this morning. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Flood-hit Canterbury: Rain eases, state of emergencies remain
Selwyn District in Canterbury remains under a state of emergency, as the district council monitors river levels and other issues following yesterday's heavy rain. A local state of emergency was also declared in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula last night as large parts of the country were hammered by torrential rain, gale-force winds, high seas and heavy snow. Selwyn District Mayor Sam Broughton, at Darfield, told RNZ's Morning Report programme the weather had eased overnight and the forecast for today was positive. "So, that's a good sign, but it is certainly very wet underfoot. There's a huge amount of surface flooding that's here, and I really want to thank everyone for the effort yesterday and overnight and appreciate what they did for our community, and to [Emergency Management and Recovery] Minister Mark Mitchell, who also visited - really appreciate the national and regional support in this." There were a few people who were forced to leave home, he said, and the Lincoln Events Centre remained open for those who needed somewhere safe to stay. "The state of emergency remains in place in Selwyn, and our emergency operation centre is fully operational and teams are out at first light again, checking and watching river levels particularly, which have peaked, but will only lower slowly as our rivers don't exit out into the ocean. "Halswell River in particular is high and will continue to sort of creep higher… over the morning until that can be open - and that could be not today. It could be tomorrow. It just depends on conditions. It might be, over the weekend." Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said the state of emergency, declared at 4pm yesterday, was due to the impact of the wet weather such as flooding, slips, landslide and falling trees, particularly on Banks Peninsula. Parts of the Banks Peninsula settlement of Little River were under water, with homes and businesses flooded. Canterbury Civil Defence and Emergency Management team leader Phill Mackay told RNZ this morning the situation in the region was improving. Mackay said he was not aware of any formal evacuations overnight, though some people had self-evacuated to safer homes. "I think the two biggest areas of concern is Banks Peninsula and the Selwyn District. I think the Banks Peninsula because they're totally isolated at the moment, obviously the priority is to get the roads reopened, and then start assessing these actual and potential landslide risks around the peninsula. "So I think one thing we really need is daylight for the teams to get out to have a look at that. "Within the Selwyn District it's the surface water, not so much the river flooding. The rivers are staying within their banks, even though they're extremely high, but there's just a lot of water out on paddocks across roads, within the district and the wider Canterbury region." Thankfully there had not been widespread power outages, he said. "We're lucky we've managed to keep the power on and the utilities have done a fantastic job in that space." There were a number of road closures and roads affected by surface flooding across our local roading network today. Some of these key roads include: Springs Rd between Boundary Rd and Tancreds Rd, Leeston Rd/Drain Rd Goulds Rd Old Tai Tapu Rd between Tai Tapu Domain and Early Valley Rd. State Highway 1 at Selwyn River remains open at this stage. The New Zealand Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi is continuing to monitor the situation and motorists should take care if you need to travel and drive to the conditions.
