Hawkes Bay Case Study

Hawke’s Bay, a region already highly vulnerable to climate change, was devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. The cyclone brought severe flooding, river erosion, and widespread damage, intensifying the need for effective climate adaptation strategies. Yet, the aftermath revealed deep inequities in the protection offered by these measures, with certain communities left exposed. This case study examines the disconnect between policy and the lived realities on the ground, identifying areas of maladaptation where adaptation measures fail those most affected.

Cyclone Gabrielle’s Impact

Cyclone Gabrielle wreaked havoc across the region, drastically altering landscapes with massive debris and sediment buildup that obstructed river paths and displaced entire communities. Māori communities were particularly hard hit, with marae and ancestral lands suffering extensive damage. The economic toll on local infrastructure, agriculture, and businesses has left the region facing a long and uncertain recovery.

Root Causes of the Destruction

1. Waterway Mismanagement: Developers, granted consent to barricade river mouths, significantly altered water flow. This bottleneck prevented the release of floodwaters, leading to uncontrolled flooding and devastation.

2. Forestry Slash: Poor management of forestry debris left behind by logging operations obstructed rivers, intensifying flooding and damaging nearby residential areas.

3. Failed Emergency Systems: Critical telemetry systems for early warning were destroyed, leaving communities without vital information for evacuation. Delayed responses and outdated flood data further worsened the situation, endangering lives.

These failures indicate that climate adaptation policies must prioritise the protection of vulnerable communities and address the systemic mismanagement of land and water. As New Zealand revisits its climate adaptation laws, the lessons from Cyclone Gabrielle must inform more just and effective strategies.

Land Categorization and the Cyclone Recovery Response

Following Cyclone Gabrielle, the Crown directed regional councils to assess and categorize land based on future climate risks, in collaboration with the insurance industry. In Esk Valley, this desk-based categorization process deemed 42 properties, including a marae in a flood-prone area, as category three, labeling them high-risk due to the damage sustained and the anticipated future threats. Category three was primarily assigned to residential properties, focusing on protecting lives. However, the assessment appears to have overlooked critical factors, such as land management practices that contributed to the cyclone's impacts and the special cultural significance of Māori land. The engagement process with the community was standardized, and it seems that Kaupapa Māori input came only after engineering assessments had been made, leaving little room for meaningful Māori participation in shaping the outcomes.

Whirinaki Resilience Project: Protecting Industry at a Cost

In response to Cyclone Gabrielle, the Whirinaki Resilience Project was launched, driven by two corporate affected entities - Pan Pac and coordinated by Stephen Daysh from Mitchell Daysh. The project focuses on flood protection for key assets belonging to Pan Pac, Trust Power, and Contact Energy. These companies, which are economically significant but also contributors to climate change, aim to safeguard their operations and the residential areas where their workers live. A stop bank is proposed along the Lower Esk River and Whirinaki Stream Catchment, particularly around Pohutukawa Drive and North Shore Road, to protect these assets. However, this measure heightens flood risks for properties located between the stop bank and the river. The consultation process has so far been minimal, engaging with the Petane Marae Trustee board but excluding many Māori freehold landowners and farming communities from key decisions. Local affected community members have raised concerns about whose interests are prioritized and who is left vulnerable in the name of economic protection.