From one storm to another

What a start to 2023, it seems like we have gone from one devastating storm to another with widespread destruction that will take years to repair. The damage to roading, infrastructure, properties, vehicles, plant, and equipment has been massive, but all of this is pales in comparison to the loss of lives. Our thoughts go out to those who lost loved ones. The stories of survival and the community helping each other is heart-warming. When we visited some affected members after the Auckland flooding, a landlord was telling us of the community pitching in to assist, where on a Saturday, he had over 30 people helping mop up the mess.

“People just stopped and asked, “Can we help?” and they did, they got out of their vehicles with gumboots on and grabbed shovels from their boots, then just pitchedin to help clear up the mess.”

On our journey visiting members around the Napier area, we heard of more great community spirit and survival. When visiting a dealership, we met a lady who was in replacing her car that was just a small part of all her lost possessions and home during the flooding. She told us her story of survival, from ankle-deep water to chest height within four minutes, standing on her kitchen counter until the water was too deep that she then had to swim inside her house to try and stay alive. Minutes later she was saved by her neighbour, a remarkable story of courage and kindness.

Members assist

Our motor vehicle dealers also assisted rescue efforts by loaning out 4-wheel-drive vehicles to Red Cross and Civil Defence. Another member brought in generators to the region at short notice via the heavily damaged roading network, that helped people and rescue workers with power while repairs were being made.

In the Hawke’s Bay region, rail infrastructure and housing will take a long time to fix, and it is looking likely to be around 12 months’ work to recover vehicles and plant in the area.

Larry.fallowfield@mta.org.nz

As more vehicle are recovered and are written-off, we will start to see flood-damaged vehicle parts start filtering through the second-hand supply process. As we know, some of these exterior body panels may still be suitable for use in the collision repair sector, but other critical parts will not, especially any parts that are critical to the safety, steering, braking, electrical or mechanical systems and components that will be compromised due to water damage.

It is important that you consider what parts you will accept, and the possible additional effort required to ensure they are fit for purpose, now and in the future.

If you are happy to receive flood damaged body parts, like door or tailgates/boot lids, then you should not use any of the internal mechanisms. You will need to check for any foreign objects within the shells, ensure all drain holes are clean and clear of obstructions, and apply cavity wax and rust preventative lubricants to critical working parts.

If you are not willing to accept flood-damaged parts, add to your parts requests:

• Don’t supply parts from flooddamaged vehicles.

• Parts from flood-damaged vehicles will not be accepted. As a repairer, you hold the responsibility for any warranty issues that may arise as a result of your work. Hence, it is important that you do not accept/use any parts that have been damaged by water. In the event that a work provider insists that you use such parts, you have the right to decline the repair and refuse to proceed.