Weather

Queenstown is open for business following extreme weather and despite the resort’s ongoing drinking water issue.

Foresty slash was swept into upper Queenstown during the biggest downpour in 24 years, which prompted the declaration of a state of emergency.

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz has lifted the state of emergency across Tairāwhiti.

A state of emergency has been declared in Tairāwhiti by Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz.

A $1bn cyclone funding recovery package will help rebuild crucial road and rail links wiped out by summer’s extreme weather, as well as install some future flood protection measures.

A crucial transport link between Wairoa and Napier is now open, three months after it was damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.

State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Napier is on track for reopening this weekend.

The additional funding is to meet demand from businesses trying to recover from Cyclone Gabrielle.

The hospitality industry’s inaugural Cooking up a Storm event led by chef Al Brown has raised $370,000 to support those impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.

New Zealand Customs Service is now offering payment plans and remitting late payments for businesses impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.

NZEA says extreme weather caused hundreds of North Island events to be cancelled with some organisers suffering losses of up to $2m.

Visitor spend across the summer hotspot fell 40% in February due to Cyclone Gabrielle.

The government is providing a further $25m in grants to help more businesses in cyclone-affected regions with the clean-up and to get them back up and running. 

Auckland International Airport Limited said Cyclone Gabrielle impacted international passenger movements in February 2023, which totalled 654,665 including transits, or 69% of the same month in pre-Covid 2019.

It was not the summer many were hoping for but there is still much to aim for, writes Northland Inc’s GM of destination, Tania Burt.

The state of national emergency for Tairāwhiti And Hawke’s Bay ends today after 28 days in effect.

Wairarapa is now eligible for the $25m government-allocated support package for businesses affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Just under $500,000 will be paid out to Hawke’s Bay communities, individuals, families, community organisations and marae affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Waikato businesses are now able to access the $1.42m cyclone and flood recovery support funding administered by Thames Coromandel District Council and allocated by the government.

Ruapehu District Council has committed $10,000 toward the Mayoral Relief Fund to aid Cyclone Gabrielle recovery efforts and also help local tourism.

“In the Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay regions, thousands of people are still unable to return to their homes due to flood damage.”

Taitokerau Northland businesses can now apply for a business recovery grant of up to $40,000 to support their recovery following Cyclone Gabrielle.

Attracting the ‘right’ visitor at the ‘right’ time is crucial, writes Trust Tairāwhiti’s regional tourism manager.

Applications for up to $40,000 in grants are now open for Hawke’s Bay businesses the have suffered from cyclone Gabrielle.

The government has ended the states of national emergency declared on 14 February over the Northland, Auckland, and Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Group areas and the Tararua District, Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty confirmed.

Visitors are asked to check with their accommodation providers to confirm operating conditions.

Ships will not draw any water or power from the region or drop waste during their visits.

The government has extended its state of national emergency across six regions until 7 March in response to the prolonged impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has launched an international fundraising appeal and a special Lotto draw to support the recovery efforts across the North Island impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.

The grants can help businesses impacted due to barriers to customer access, supply chain issues, or the inability to operate as usual due to damage.

Travellers between Auckland and Northland are advised to check the status of roads before heading out as key highways remain closed.

The Rodger Fox Big Band will play three shows in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to raise money for the Hawke’s Bay Disaster Relief Fund and the Hawke’s Bay Jazz Club.

Operators are doing their bit to help those affected by the recent extreme weather events.

InterCity has resumed its Auckland to Gisborne services and introduced $15 fares to help reconnect Tairāwhiti.

MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning for the soaked Hawke’s Bay as a new weather system moves over the country.

Westpac is increasing its support to $4m for businesses and communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and the flooding events.

Marsden Viaduct Hotel makes the most of the time needed to repair flood damage, following the deluge that hit the city.

Hawke’s Bay Tourism has created a Q&A guide for trade and visitors about what they can expect from travel, bookings, accommodation, and safety in the region.

The government has assembled a cabinet committee and regional ministerial leads in order to coordinate the government response to Cyclone Gabrielle.

Some tourism businesses are re-opening, while others remain closed during the clean-up.

The Department of Conservation has closed Te Papanui Conservation Park near Dunedin due to the fire risk in the area, with further warnings in place for Otago, parts of Southland, and Canterbury.

People are being warned to stay off the beaches in Gisborne and up the coast as piles of wood and large logs reach up to two metres high in some places.

The government has extended the state of national emergency for a further seven days to support the response to the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Tourism has largely ground to a halt across large parts of the region but things are improving day by day, says one operator.

Visitors to Department of Conservation huts, tracks and campsites on conservation land are urged to check the availability of sites before they set off on their journeys.

Port calls at Napier remain off the itinerary while Hawke’s Bay and East Coast count the cost of Cyclone Gabrielle.

The government has announced a $2m support package for North Island East Coast communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Significant cancellations have been taken leaving some operators struggling through the summer.

The Napier 2023 Art Deco Festival has been cancelled due to the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on the battered Hawke’s Bay.

Hawke’s Bay Airport is urging all incoming travellers to arrange local ground travel before they fly while phone, power and internet outages continue to affect the region.