Govt Approves Special Order to Accelerate Hawke’s Bay Weather Recovery Efforts

The move is aimed at helping the region recover from the severe weather events, including Cyclone Gabrielle, that devastated the area in early 2023.

The Cabinet has approved an Order in Council to allow critical recovery work in the Hawke’s Bay region to proceed without delays, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell have announced. The move is aimed at helping the region recover from the severe weather events, including Cyclone Gabrielle, that devastated the area in early 2023.

"These weather events caused extensive damage to Hawke’s Bay, and landowners are still dealing with the aftermath," Minister Simmonds said. "A recent survey showed that 94% of local landowners have yet to complete their recovery work."

The recovery tasks include repairing access tracks, culverts, dams, roads, and bridges, removing silt, and restoring eroded land. Normally, these activities would require resource consents, but the new Order in Council temporarily amends the Resource Management Act to classify these works as permitted activities, allowing them to continue unimpeded until April 2026.

"This Order will support landowners who have faced delays due to insurance issues, contractor shortages, and ongoing wet weather," Simmonds added.

Developed in response to a request from the Hawke’s Bay Regional Recovery Agency, the Order highlights the government’s commitment to locally driven recovery efforts, Mitchell said.

The Order will take effect on 20 September 2024 and will remain in force until 30 April 2026.