Latest news with #HBRC
NZ Herald
14 hours ago
- General
- NZ Herald
Hawke's Bay fires: Penalty of fine criticised as ‘economic incentive to burn'
'$300 is not a deterrent. It's actually an economic incentive to burn,' Graham said. 'I rang the Pollution hotline. This was one of the worst examples of air pollution that I have seen this year, which is saying something considering the extent of this activity,' Graham said. 'This fire was in blatant disregard and abuse of our community's air quality and the law. 'The smoke was drifting towards Hastings, completely covering the entire region between Railway Rd and Havelock North,' Graham said. 'It was difficult to drive on Riverslea Rd heading back into Hastings due to limited visibility.' HBRC said its pollution response team investigated a complaint regarding smoke in the Longlands Rd area on July 27. 'As a result of that investigation, enforcement action has been taken and a $300 fine issued.' HBRC compliance manager Matt Wilkinson said it was frustrating that the council's ability to deter this behaviour was constrained by the fines set at a national level. 'But we acknowledge the changes made by the Government, coming into effect in September, which lifts the infringement fines to $600 for individuals or $1200 for companies as a move in the right direction of discouraging burning in or near airsheds.' Graham said those planned increases were not high enough and would still encourage fires to save money. Air pollution records published in Hawke's Bay Today on Friday, August 8, show the National Environment Standard air quality was also exceeded in Hastings on July 26 (54 micrograms). In a 12-month period in 2023-24, HBRC received about 80 complaints of burning during winter. More than 70 infringement fines were issued. Orchard burnoffs are allowed under the Regional Air Quality rules, but they must meet specific conditions. Christian Jirkowsky, who moved from Austria to Hawke's Bay in 2007 and has more than 30 years' experience in the power and heat generation sector, where wood, biomass, and fossil fuels are used for energy production, said it was widely acknowledged and scientifically proven that even brief exposure to fine particles (PM 2.5 and PM1) and aerosols emitted from open wood burning increases the risk of non-accidental and respiratory-related fatalities. 'This is why most developed countries have banned open burning and apply severe consequences for violations,' he said. 'Wood smoke exposure induces airway irritation, causes lung damage, and substantially increases the likelihood of developing asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], and heart attacks,' Jirkowsky said. What is an airshed? An airshed is a legally designated air-quality management area. In New Zealand, regional councils and unitary authorities have identified areas to be managed as airsheds for the national environmental standards for air quality. The majority of airsheds may have levels of pollutants that exceed the national environmental standards for air quality. Some airsheds are also identified based on factors such as: the number of people living in the airshed now or in the future unique weather patterns and geography local air emissions, such as local industrial activity, which need to be specifically considered and managed. Why do we have airsheds? HBRC says airshed rules exist because smoke from backyard fires in urban areas, though they may seem minor, adds up quickly. On cold, still days, the smoke lingers and affects air quality. 'If everyone lit backyard fires, it would quickly become a serious pollution issue. These rules help protect our whānau and community from the harmful health effects of smoke, especially in winter when it gets trapped close to the ground.' LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- General
- NZ Herald
Clive resident calls for river dredging after years of ‘neglect'
HBRC in July began work on strengthening the riverbank beside Farndon Rd to prevent erosion. But Craig MacErlich, who was born and bred in Clive and grew up on the river, says it's the river itself that needs the attention first. 'Once upon a time, when I was young and foolish, we would jump off the Clive Bridge. The water was deep. We would also swim across to the bars. 'I wouldn't swim in it now. Hawke's Bay Regional Council has neglected the river. It hasn't been dredged for years,' MacErlich said. A spokesperson for HBRC said the council acknowledged the concerns and appreciated locals' long-standing connection to Te Awa o Mokotūāraro. 'The subject of dredging the river was taken to the council before Cyclone Gabrielle, to seek additional funding,' the spokesperson said. Hawke's Bay Regional Council is using a thick layer of large rocks to strengthen the riverbank along Te Awa o Mokotuararo. 'At that time, an extra $3m was needed and suitable options for sediment disposal were still being explored.' The council chose not to allocate the additional funding and deferred the decision to the next Long-Term Plan. After the cyclone, the revised Long-Term Plan (a shorter three-year plan) focused on recovery efforts and rebuilding critical infrastructure. 'Looking ahead, the next opportunity to reconsider funding for this important work will be during the development of the 2027-2037 Long Term Plan,' the spokesperson said. 'If funding is approved, the timing of the dredging will depend on when it is available and capacity within HBRC to do the work.' The Awa o Mokotuararo (Clive River) in the 1900s. Photo / Michael Fowler Collection MacErlich said a lack of maintenance had left the river with little flow and that it was polluted. 'When the weed boat works upstream in the Karamu, the weed floats down to the river, then stops because of the lack of flow and sits there and rots.' The council spokesperson said they knew weed removed from upstream can sometimes accumulate in the Clive River. 'This is an unintended consequence of weed clearance operations, and we are actively reviewing how operational methods and scheduling can better account for downstream effects.' The area of the riverbank being worked on was identified after stopbank ground investigations found the riverside slope had been worn away by the river. 'We have stabilised it by building a structure of specific-sized and graded rock to protect against erosion. 'It will be installed by building a thick layer of large rocks, along with approved detailed engineering designs. It acts as a barrier to absorb the energy of the river, preventing it from eroding and undermining the bank.' The road shoulder will be closed most of the time, with traffic management in place when needed. It is expected that work will be completed by the middle of September. The council said, as the project was still under way, the final cost was yet to be confirmed. In January 2023, a rowing regatta, which included teams from around the country, had to pause at low tide because of weeds and tubeworms interfering with the course. The river was officially named Te Awa o Mokotūāraro, a shorter version of Ngaruroro Moko-tū-ā-raro ki Rangatira, the original Māori name, in 2023. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
26-06-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Wairoa residents still distrust council a year after devastating flood
A year on from the devastating Wairoa flood, residents still fear for their lives when it rains. When the Wairoa River burst its banks on 26 June, 2024 it tore through more than 400 properties, causing $40 million of damage. The resilient rural community has rallied hard over the past 12 months , but the emotional toll of that awful day still lingers for many. Marie Tuahine was one of many who fled for their lives in the early hours of the morning. "It was quite traumatising. The panic of trying to get out and get the babies out, they had to be carried out because they would have drowned... the water was quite swift coming through here." Photo: Calvin Samuel Locals blame Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) for not opening a channel in the Wairoa river bar earlier, so the deluge could flow out to sea more easily . Instead, the swollen river could not empty itself into the ocean quickly enough and smothered the southern part of town. "I've been here over 50 years in this house and never seen anything like it before, and it's scary as, I mean, I could put up with an earthquake, but I couldn't put up with that," Tuahine said. An independent review of the flood later found the regional council lacked a plan and did not listen to locals. One of the report's conclusions was that if the crest of the river bar had been lowered, then the flooding may not have been as bad. Photo: Nick Monro People were only evacuated in time because an official was woken by her baby . The nightmare of Tuahine and her family's narrow escape still lingers, and when it rains the memories come flooding back. "I get quite emotional just talking about it because, you know, it all just comes back and you don't know. Every time it rains, you think, 'Oh God, have they opened the bar?' Because you just don't want this to happen again. I don't wish it on anybody." Rain events make her nervous, because she did not trust that the regional council had learned from its mistakes. "I don't have a lot of faith in the regional council, I think they're just all talk. They obviously don't give a shit about us because we've got our mayor, who's been fighting for us all the way, and we really appreciate that." Marie Tuahine's house in the Wairoa flood of June 2024. Photo: Supplied HBRC told RNZ it understood the event would have had lasting effects on people, and was working hard to rebuild that trust. The council said it had a new river management plan in place, and was also looking at options to protect the south side of Wairoa, which could include a more permanent positioning of the river mouth. "HBRC would welcome Crown input on where funding might come from for such a multimillion-dollar proposal," it said in a statement. The area of North Clyde had a $70m flood protection project underway, after it flooded in Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. However, Wairoa Mayor Craig Little wanted to also see protection for southern residents, and was hoping HBRC would build a groyne in the river to help guide it out. "So once we get that, then the people on this side, the south side, can actually know that the mouth is always open," he said. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell and Wairoa mayor Craig Little giving an update on the situation in Wairoa in June 2024. Photo: RNZ / Calvin Samuel The mayor had written to HBRC, urging it not to be complacent. "We've still got a lot of work to do, don't think 'okay, that's behind us, we will move on now'. Everyone lives that every day in Wairoa. We've got to make sure it still stays up here so we never forget." Marie Tuahine's house in the Wairoa flood of June 2024. Photo: Supplied It was difficult for the town to move on when so many were still struggling to rebuild, with 83 homes yellow-stickered as many residents were uninsured and could not afford repairs. When RNZ visited Tuahine she was pleased to be back in her newly rebuilt home and was grateful she had insurance to cover the cost. However, her yard and driveway was still a mess from the flood, and the pensioner worried about how she would find the money to fix it. "Not only am I out of pocket, but the stress of it all - I'm trying to clean up on my own and not getting far. "A year on and I have a hell of a long way to go." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
‘A Safer Approach': New Flood Plan For Wairoa River Bar
An ecological survey of the Wairoa River has helped Hawke's Bay Regional Council devise a new plan for managing the bar. The Intermediate Management Plan, led by HBRC in collaboration with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, outlines a proactive approach to manage flood risks and will improve resilience for the Wairoa community in flood events. The plan includes, when conditions allow, lowering a section of the beach crest between Rangi-houa (Pilot Hill) and the old pier. HBRC said this will be maintained and monitored, and allow water to safely exit during a flood, reducing the need for emergency bar openings and helping to manage risk more effectively. Wairoa Mayor Craig Little says anything that can be done to mitigate the risk of floods is imperative. 'As we near the first anniversary of the June 2024 flooding, I am mindful that we still have many people who have not recovered from the floods, and we will support anything we can to help protect our community,' Little said. The new plan follows a Government review into the June floods over the decision by HBRC not to begin opening the Wairoa River bar earlier, given the information available to it. The review hit out at the council's culture, its communication with Wairoa officials and locals, its tendency to be overly optimistic, and the lack of warning given to those in the firing line of the potential for flooding in June. However, it did not go as far as stating an earlier opening of the bar would have avoided the floods that swamped the lower part of the township. About 127 homes were flooded and hundreds more properties were affected by water tearing through the northern Hawke's Bay town. HBRC says the top priority remains to keep a healthy open mouth in the river at its optimal location, and where there are opportunities, to relocate it from a poor to an ideal location. HBRC Chair Hinewai Ormsby says the plan is a more resilient way of managing the Wairoa River mouth. 'We're grateful for the partnership with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa in delivering this important piece of work.' The plan is a 'living document' that will be reviewed and updated as needed, she said. Crown Manager Lawrence Yule said it was important to have a holistic floodplain management approach for Wairoa, including both short-term and long-term strategies for the river bar. 'This plan marks an important step toward a safer and more consistent approach to managing the Wairoa River mouth. It's also just one piece of the puzzle, and further work to develop a permanent, long-term solution to the bar is ongoing,' Yule said. The Regional Council says the community can expect to see gravel surveying starting soon and diggers working on the bar in the coming weeks.
NZ Herald
28-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
New Wairoa River flood management plan is ‘a safer approach' – Hawke's Bay Regional Council
An ecological survey of the Wairoa River has helped Hawke's Bay Regional Council devise a new plan for managing the bar. The Intermediate Management Plan, led by Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) in collaboration with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, outlines a proactive approach to
