Ten states of emergency declared as Cyclone Gabrielle carries on
A firefighter is missing after a rescue operation in Muriwai and the declaration of a national state of emergency still remains possible
In today’s edition: first confirmed case of measles in New Zealand since 2019; the plan for the first day of parliament; will Gabrielle be the climate crisis event that finally spurs action?; but first, the cyclone continues its path across the North Island and the need for national state of emergency will be reviewed at 8am
A team erect a stoplog early this morning to provide addtional protection as the Ohinemuri River rises in Hauraki (Image: Waikato District Council)
Latest update after frightening night
First off, I hope Bulletin readers in the areas impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle are safe. We’ve got an update on what’s happened overnight this morning on The Spinoff and I’ll detail what MetService say we can expect today below. It’s been a hellish and frightening night for many. The news is fairly overwhelming so I also want to look at what’s happening in the areas impacted through the lens of the efforts being made by so many acting in service and in one instance, what may tragically be sacrifice.
Firefighter unaccounted for, rescue operation suspended
In Auckland last night evacuations were ordered for two roads at Muriwai after two houses collapsed, one with residents inside. A rescue operation has been underway to reach those affected and the Herald is reporting that a firefighter involved is still unaccounted for, while one is critically injured in hospital. In a statement from Fire and Emergency this morning, the search for the firefighter was suspended in the early hours of the morning due to the instability of the land. Elsewhere, according to a witness, local farmers pitched in with diggers to rescue “half a dozen families” from their homes in Ramarama.
“It’s been amazing here at the marae”
Top Energy advised that there were nearly 10,000 people in Northland without power at 11pm last night. “Never before have we dealt with such a fluid and dynamic range of outages on our network in such a short period of time,” the company wrote on Facebook. Meanwhile marae have opened their doors in the region taking those with nowhere else to go. “It’s been amazing here at the marae. People have been so welcoming. As soon as I walked in, they put a towel around me, fed me and made me feel at home,” said Gemma Orr. In the Hauraki District, teams erected a stoplog in the early hours of this morning to provide additional protection as the Ohinemuri River rises in Hauraki. The Bay of Plenty Civil Defence team, where a state of emergency was declared last night, continued to update into the early hours of the morning, issuing an apology for the emergency alert “in case it woke people up” and a reassuring handover post, complete with team photo, to reassure people updates would still be provided.
Need for national state of emergency to be reviewed at 8am
The impact of the cyclone is now being felt further down the North Island with power outages reported in New Plymouth and a state of emergency (SoE) declared in Napier City and Hastings District. That makes ten SoEs across the North Island. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) national operations manager Roger Ball said the next review on whether or not to declare a national state of emergency would be at 8am. Ball told the AM show that it is a "tool we are keeping in our toolbox and we have been keeping it under constant review." Stuff’s Glenn McConnell outlines what happens if one is declared. These are the latest warnings from MetService. People are being urged to stay at home. MetService meteorologist John Law said while rain was likely to ease on Tuesday the strong winds would stick around.
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First confirmed case of measles in New Zealand since 2019
Unfortunately, there was further unwelcome news last night as a measles case was confirmed in New Zealand for the first time since the 2019. Measles is highly contagious and very serious. There are several locations where people may have been exposed to the confirmed case so please check them here. We last had an outbreak in 2019 with 700 hospitalised. Most were children. The disease was then exported from here to Sāmoa, where it killed more than 70 people, again, mostly children. Health professionals have been warning about low vaccination rates for some time. It was only three days ago that the Royal College of GPs' Bryan Betty spoke to Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB about that exact concern.
The plan for the first day of parliament
As Toby Manhire details, mass cancellation of flights and other disruptions leaving a number of MPs, including the prime minister, stuck in the upper half of the North Island, mean the House of Representatives schedule has been shuffled around. While the prime minister’s statement and responses from other party leaders had been planned for Tuesday, that will now take place on Wednesday, according to a statement from the office of the leader of the house, Grant Robertson. Chris Hipkins’ first parliamentary question time as prime minister, originally scheduled for Wednesday, will now take place on Thursday.
Click and collect
Labour closes gap with National in new poll
The government say it will look at an overstayer petition launched by Pacific community leaders and migrant groups three years ago
Poll tax apology redelivered in the language of the settlers it affected
Something kind of awful, strange and then heartwarming (because we all need it right now) — hundreds of very hungry caterpillars were found dumped in a bin but the good people of Dunedin have rallied
Got some feedback about The Bulletin, or anything in the news? Get in touch with me at thebulletin@thespinoff.co.nz.
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Bernard Hickey wonders if Cyclone Gabrielle will be the climate crisis event that finally spurs action. Duncan Greive looks at what makes this particular cyclone so rare and dangerous. Chris Schulz has some advice on what to do when the power goes out. The Spinoff Review of Books has the best books to bunker down with. And Bridgette Toy-Cronin explains what Citizens Advice Bureau does for Auckland, and why it’s worth saving.
Sporting snippets
Olympic head rejects Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call to ban Russian the keys from Paris Games
Super Bowl result and the best Super Bowl ads. Take your pick on an event many of us could be forgiven for ignoring yesterday, or indeed at any time (Rihanna’s half time show and her sign language interpreter, the obvious exceptions)
Inside the world of television nostalgia
Am I deliberately hunting out some distracting reads? Yes I am. This from Amelia Taite at The Guardian is wonderful and weird on the secret collectors of obscure British TV memorabilia.
“Little known to most of us, there is a ferocious, often highly secretive trade in British TV props. In 2019, for example, a painting from the 80s sitcom ’Allo ’Allo! sold for £18,000 – The Fallen Madonna With the Big Boobies is officially worth just a grand less than a molar pulled from [John] Lennon’s head.”
