Source: Radio New Zealand
A creek had burst in banks on Monday on Lake Ferry Road south of Martinborough, Wairarapa. RNZ/Mary Argue
In the aftermath of the latest destructive storm, South Wairarapa’s mayor is calling for a frank discussion about the country’s future from grassroots to government level.
Torrential rain and gale force winds caused widespread flooding and damage across Wairarapa – closing roads, isolating communities, and cutting power to thousands.
A helicopter view of flooding on the South Wairarapa coast. Supplied / Carterton District Council
South Wairarapa mayor Fran Wilde said it was too soon to discuss the cost of the latest clean-up, but it wasn’t too early to talk about the long-term challenges, as she saw them.
“There are big concerns. These events are going to be more frequent and our whole roading system and our settlement pattern – they weren’t designed around these sorts of weather events.”
South Wairarapa mayor Fran Wilde Supplied
She said the problems weren’t isolated to South Wairarapa and back-to-back storms across the North Island in the past month highlighted issues faced nationwide.
“How are we going to manage this in the future? And what does it mean for our communities, for local government, and for central government?”
Wilde said the roading network was “fragile” in many places across the motu – built decades ago alongside houses that were now at risk of flooding and landslides – and once people had dealt with the brunt of the latest destruction, they needed to confront such issues.
“If you sit back and think longer term, they are serious ones that need to be part of a wider community consultation and discussion.”
South Wairarapa communities were cut off after the storm. RNZ/Mary Argue
She said adaptation was a focus for all councils and she urged the central government not to make it more difficult with changes to the planning framework.
“This is a serious issue and I think the last few months have demonstrated that,” she said.
“But … it’s not just for a few ministers to sitting at the table. The community themselves needs to be actively engaged in this and have an understanding of what the future might bring.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
