In other words, have we learned anything from these human tragedies which too often have their origin in political refusals to acknowledge the dangers lurking above and below ground that have the capacity to cause a disastrous repetition.
And I say that as a local witness to two of the most destructive weather events in modern history - the Cyclones Bola (1988) and Gabrielle (2023).
I have had the misfortune to be the owner of a farming property that was twice effectively destroyed in its ability to deliver a livelihood to my family plus its contribution to local employment opportunities and the national GDP.
In both cases the recovery has been expensive and long lasting.
We are only now (3 years after Gabrielle) emerging from the period of rehabilitation that has had a debilitating effect on our operating finances, let alone our fragile mental and physical well being.
Yet looking at the world as a whole, I am grateful that we here in New Zealand are relatively blessed in comparison to those who are suffering from endless wars in other parts of the planet. Although that will not bring comfort to those who have lost loved ones in local avoidable events, it should be enough of a reality check leading to decisions that are in the best interests of the people politicians claim to serve.
Unfortunately, history shows that it rarely works that way.
Our recent history of government responses has been mixed - contrasting the very best in the circumstances (the Lange Government’s response to Cyclone Bola) to the ill judged and politically motivated response of the Ardern / Hipkins administration to Cyclone Gabrielle.
In the Lange Government’s case, every cabinet minister and government official ranging from the PM himself down to those tasked with working alongside locals during the immediate aftermath, offered the one thing that makes these recovery periods work - a willingness to listen and effectively act on local recommendations for help.
No surprises then that this example of dedicated public service was rewarded at the next election by an overwhelming voting endorsement from a grateful nation.
On the other hand, the response of the Ardern / Hipkins Government was in contrast, both politically Machiavellian in nature and counterintuitive in its identification of those responsible for much of the damage.
The greatest act of self preservation was in the appointment of the Hekia Parata led Enquiry which historians will no doubt rightfully describe as the “Clayton’s” Enquiry - the terms of reference of which would lead to an investigation charged with ignoring local submissions providing evidence that implicated both Local and Central Government - instead focusing on apportioning blame to the Forestry Companies operating in the area at the time - many of whom have, since the Gabrielle floods, made major contributions to the cleanup - even working with farmers well outside their own region of responsibilities.
Thankfully the Government of the Day paid the ultimate price for their self- serving loathsome behaviour following this crisis at the ballot box.
Let’s hope that their time on the opposition benches will be long enough for those involved in the cover up to have exited Parliament and those that follow will have learned from the mistakes of their forebears.
While on the subject of political intervention, it is worth noting how the current Government has so far responded to similar events that have required management that is appropriate to the circumstances.
So far Luxon and the Coalition appear to have handled the Tauranga landslip situation with the sensitivity required but it is still early days to tell whether it nas been enough or in a manner that will avoid repetition.
Back home
It will take time to see if the aftermath of the recent weather bomb requires further government help commensurate with the damage done before the rain stopped.
Let’s hope that governments in future will adopt practices that reflect the real needs of the communities suffering from repeated damage caused by the same underlying problems. Most of the answers to questions about what to do next lie with the local population.
That is a simple truism that has been ignored too often in the past.
Staged managed visits by helicopter to remote regions cut off from services that normally sustain them or ambulances at the bottom of the cliff just don’t cut it anymore.
To progress towards the utopian dream of those who fought and died to keep us safe, we need to own up to our collective responsibilities and work together sharing ideas that will benefit everybody and responding to other people’s problems as if they were our own.
Governments need to learn that their role in these avoidable disasters is to coordinate the relief effort using whatever resources are available - not to dictate a response that is politically acceptable to them in the circumstances.
Learning from past mistakes and acting in a way that avoids repeats is a consequential sign of maturity. We obviously still have someway to go before claiming that status.
Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.
7 comments:
I recall the media were slow to pick up the story with Cyclone Gabrielle. It seemed like another example of the media being under the thumb of the Labour Government in an election year and getting the messaging right.
The kneejerk response to Gabrielle crushed our community causing friction and in secret actions that benefited some and crippled others.
We will never recover what we had.
The council is currently spending $50 m on stopbanks that will not have any effect on our area unless there is a monster.
The areas where money should be spent on belated maintenance are being left .They have not corrected the problems identified by locals .
Pike River. Clive you need to add to your opening comments, the fact the Andrew Little instigated a multi $$ investigation, with attached media hype, involving Families of deceased miners, the media covered re entry - then "the closing the door[s]" with nothing to see here.
And yet even today, there are still clarion calls for a further investigation.
So 'who determined', the closing of the doors at the time and why did it occur.
Yes there was " an excuse " - gas - really?
NZ Forestry - Cyclone Gabrielle, a failed Inquiry, and yes questions were asked then,
and I am sure you know who in NZ controls forestry and who the end purchaser is, which is worth [again] large amounts of $$ and why they may have been very keen to
" to have the visual aspect of an enquiry, look the other way".
As to the person who was appointed to lead - sadly a failed Member of the National Party at the time.
Sadly, Clive, the weather has not finished with us yet, but "thankfully we have the wee lass Chloe to stand against the wind, water, rising sea levels, and hills that slide down to the road".
Was or was not forestry slash the single readily avoidable contribution to Gabrielle damage?
Well Yes Robert - according to the media (John Campbell et al), it most surely was but we have photographic evidence showing major damage caused by whole trees (not slash) that entered the water courses after the collapse of retired close planted hillsides - a significant contributing factor that no land management system could have avoided.
I live 500 meters from the Mangatokerau river bridge where Campbell spoke to the nation nightly on the Network News repeating his false claim that forestry slash was the sole cause of the mass destruction further down the valley..
I had met Campbell twice during his time here in Tolaga after the floods and during the Parata Enquiry. On both occasions, l invited him to talk to locals who lived ant the coalface about our interpretation of events and who was responsible - he never showed up after promising to do so. No surprises there!
Consequently, the blame for avoidable damage that should have been laid at the feet of those in authority at the time - Local and Central governments who either failed to do their job or were responsible for policies that allowed pine trees to be indiscriminately planted in areas of unstable land - failed to happen due to a deliberate government coverup.
In the meantime while those who should have been made accountable go unchallenged, some of those who were innocent of charges laid against them (mainly responsible forestry management companies) have been unfairly prosecuted and fined large amounts of money.
It is a scandal that should be uncovered in an independent enquiry and why l use this forum seeking justice for those who have been wrecklessly maligned.
It wasn't forestry slash in the Hawkes Bay,. It was almost all willow, those riverside trees that the Regional Council wouldn't remove. They piled up against the bridges and narrow points. What the predecessor Drainage Board religiously got rid of.
Have they put any expendable barriers on the bridge piers yet ?
A bit like corn harvester , combine harvester front end ?
A bit basic to protect the bridges at minimal cost.
As for John Campbell, who listens to him other than his fan base - for most of us, we reach for the off switch rather than being preached to in his condescending manner from his high horse.
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