Natural Disasters
New Zealand's reinsurance problem
Parliament's Finance and Expenditure Committee has been warned that New Zealand's recent history of major natural disasters has made global reinsurers reassess the country's risk profile. Audio
Council faces legal action over Wairoa flooding
A Wairoa business owner is taking the Hawke's Bay Regional Council to court after last month's flooding in the town. Audio
More than 100 people still out of homes after Wairoa flooding
As the clean up continues, anger is simmering about how the disaster was allowed to happen.
Mayor calls for Civil Defence levy to help with ‘huge cost’ of disasters
Could a levy help fund local Civil Defence responses?
Hawke's Bay horticultural recovery requires millions more - report
A consultancy report updates the estimates done shortly after Cyclone Gabrielle, dropping the initial budget by about a quarter of a million dollars.
Wairoa housing help scheme launches
A service to help flood-affected Wairoa residents with housing came into force on Tuesday.
Wairoa to receive another recovery funding boost
The government is giving the Wairoa community another 500-thousand dollars to help it recover from last week's devastating flooding. The Wairoa river flooded more than 400 properties as heavy rain… Audio
Government fund to relocate cyclone-damaged marae and homes
A multimillion dollar government fund will soon pay to move cyclone-wrecked marae and homes on Maori land out of harm's way. But no plans for relocation are set in stone yet, and eight months after… Audio
At least four dead as hurricane Beryl moves towards Jamaica
At least four people have died after Hurricane Beryl made landfall in several countries in the Caribbean. It's been upgraded to a Category 5 and is moving west towards Jamaica. It's expected to hit… Audio
Natural Hazards Commission vs outgoing EQC - what are the changes?
Explainer - The Natural Hazards Commission has taken over from the Earthquake Commission (EQC) with the goal of simplifying the process for claimants. Audio
Wairoa facing severe housing shortage after floods
The head of a Wairoa iwi trust says the town's housing need is greater than ever, with increased mental distress following another stint of heavy rain and flooding last week. The chief executive of… Audio
Lime juicing company 'just vanished' in flooding
Di Downey fled as the waters rose around her, blindly dodging logs and debris in the dark. Audio
Wairoa community shifting focus to recovery - Mitchell
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell speaks to Susana Lei'ataua about spending the day in Wairoa. He said the community are starting to shift their focus to recovery. Audio
Wairoa resident speaks on Wairoa Mayor's response
One of the neighbour's helping Diane with her clean up today was Paul Macalo. He speaks to Susana Lei'ataua about being on his tractor helping Di clear debris from her property, when he saw Wairoa… Audio
Wairoa woman devastated due to flood damage
Di Downey from The Limery had just minutes to escape before being inundated by flood waters, she's described leaving the property in the dark, dodging huge logs and debris. Today she had to send out… Audio
Wairoa campground flooding brings about deja vu
Closed since Cyclone Gabrielle, Sharon Soloman had just one day to celebrate re-opening, before they were inundated again overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. Since then, they've been busy saving… Audio
Wairoa faces millions of dollars of damage after heavy rain
The worst of the weather may be over for Wairoa, but the town is now faced with millions of dollars of damage to its infrastructure and people's homes. Yesterday, the murky waters of the Wairoa river… Audio
NZTA update on road conditions after heavy rain
Hundreds of people have been affected by flooding on the east coast of the North Island, with more rain expected over the next few days. Hawke's Bay and Tai Rawhiti were slammed with torrential rain… Audio
Hawke's Bay and the East Coast damaged by heavy rain
Heavy rain has let up, but the damage has been done in some parts of Hawke's Bay and the East Coast. States of emergency remain in place in Wairoa and the Heretaunga Ward of Hastings District. Audio
Street almost competely levelled after flooding
Nearly all the houses of a South Auckland street have been bulldozed after last year's flooding.