Western BOP mostly dodges Gabrielle

While emergency services and contractors around Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga City have endured sleepless nights this week, it seems the area has mostly managed to dodge the full force of Cyclone Gabrielle.

However, the North Island’s top half – including Bay of Plenty – remains in a National State of Emergency due to fellow regions being hit hard by ooding and wind damage caused by the cyclone.

At time of print, ve people have been con rmed killed in the devastation, while police hold “grave concerns” for some reported missing in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti areas.

By Wednesday, more than 1400 people had been reported as uncontactable, but police expect a large number to be due to communication being down.

In Hawke’s Bay 9000 people have been displaced from their homes due to massive ooding, which has also ruined crops and killed livestock. Napier could be without power for two weeks.

On ursday morning navy ship HMNZS Manawanui was due in Tairāwhiti with water supplies, and HMNZS Te Mana was heading for Napier to supply Wairoa with water and essentials.

On the Coromandel Peninsula power was restored to Pauanui and Tairua Wednesday afternoon after some residents went without electricity for three days. Communication lines were coming back on there.

West Auckland residents continue to clean up homes and businesses inundated with ooding while a Muriwai landslide killed a volunteer re ghter helping residents ee their home. Many are still without power in the Far North as contractors continue work to restore lines.

Western BOP

In Western Bay of Plenty, a council spokesperson says initial reports suggest there’s been no signi cant coastal inundation in the district.

Council sta and contractors assessed the region

Horizons

Suicide Loss Support Group connections with others who understand grief after loss to suicide.

Suitable for age 18+

Tauranga

3rd Tuesday of each month

6pm - 7:30pm

Grief Support Services

147 Chadwick Rd Greerton including checking roads, powerlines, damaged trees and council facilities. “Our teams have been working extremely hard...” A section of Te Puna’s Wairoa Rd washed out in January, with the road still unrepaired and down to one lane as the cyclone hit. “Our crews are starting to get out there and start the clean-up jobs. If you see anything, please report it to us. ere’s a lot of damaged trees, roads, powerlines etc around.”

Tauranga

In Tauranga City, Commission chair Anne Tolley has praised the “immense” e orts of everyone involved in the city’s response to the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle. “Tauranga City has seen multiple situations of fallen trees blocking roads and felling power lines, and crews have been working around the clock to remedy those issues as quickly as possible. We are grateful that things aren’t worse here and that our infrastructure has held up well. Our hearts go out to the many people around the country whose homes and properties have been damaged by the cyclone...”

Swap 2 cans of food for 1 FREE Resene testpot

Bring in 2 cans of food and we’ll give you 1 FREE Resene testpot 60-80 mL (worth up to $6). All cans of food will be donated to local Salvation Army and community foodbanks to give to Kiwi families in need.

Start gathering up those cans and bring them into your local Resene ColorShop!

Mt Maunganui: 91 Newton St, (07) 572

Amy Colonna 021 0903 9568 amy@griefsupport.org.nz www.griefsupport.org.nz resene.co.nz/hungerforcolour

Jocelyn Sawyer has only ever missed two of the Masters tournaments since their inception in 1997. Photo: John Borren.