The Prime Minister has paid tribute to the South's flood response as part of a visit to Dunedin today to check on the recovery efforts.
- 'We need more pumps, we need more pipes'
- Uncertain future for families of red-stickered homes
- Region moves into recovery mode
- Photo slideshow: As the floodwaters recede
Christopher Luxon said he was in the city to recognise and support those who "stood up and delivered for their community" during the states of emergency in Clutha and Dunedin resulting from last week's deluge that began on Thursday.
On two consecutive days, Dunedin received more rain than usually falls on the city in the month of October.
MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said Dunedin got 76mm of rain on Thursday and on Friday got 70.4mm. The city’s average for the month of October was 69.3mm of rain, he said.
Mr Luxon, with Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell and New Zealand First list MP Mark Patterson, of Lawrence, addressed media from Dunedin's Civil Defence bunker in Moray Pl today.
"I just want to acknowledge that it is a tough time for the people of Otago, who have been impacted by the severe weather event, and really the devastation is real, whether it be 11 families who have got red-stickered properties at the moment, whether it be farmers that have lost huge amounts of livestock and lambs," Mr Luxon said.
"It's been a difficult time and obviously some challenges with respect to the roading infrastructure and network that slips and other things impacting property and roads.
"The devastation is real."
He thanked Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich and Clutha District Mayor Bryan Cadogan, along with local councillors, and the Civil Defence team for their work during the storm.
From a government point of view, Mr Luxon said support would continue to come through the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry for Social Development to those who were affected.
Mr Mitchell said government was here to work with local government through the response. He said they had not yet had any requests for assistance with respect the 11 red-stickered homes.
In a statement this afternoon, Emergency Management Otago Controller Matt Alley said the team was ‘very grateful’ to have their work acknowledged during the visit.
“This visit means a lot to the team and I would like to add my thanks to all the dedicated and hard-working teams, based at the city, district and regional councils across the region, who gave this response their undivided attention and time, because they care for their communities."
“As rivers continue to recede, our focus has turned to people’s welfare and wellbeing, in particular folk affected in Dunedin and landholders and rural communities in the Clutha area, as the damage from the past few days is able to be assessed,” Mr Alley said.
“People should not just “soldier on” but talk with friends, families, or colleagues, or contact the agencies who specialise in offering a helping hand.”
Getting support
Mr Alley said the Otago Rural Advisory Group was meeting daily to understand impacts and coordinate activities. “There is a strong rural network that has good connections with farmers and rural communities."
He encouraged anyone in the farming sector feeling the effects of anxiety to contact Rural Support Trust 0800 Rural Help (0800 787 254) or visit www.rural-support.org.nz.
Civil Defence Payments are available from the Ministry of Social Development for flood-affected people in the Dunedin area.
Emergency Management Otago advised just after 6pm today that payments have also been approved for affected people in the coastal areas of the Clutha district (Bruce Ward, Kaitangata Matau Ward, Balclutha Ward and Catlins Ward).
You do not have to be on a benefit to qualify for this payment and non-residents may also be eligible. In most cases it doesn't matter what your income is or what assets you have.
The payments can help with emergency food, clothing and bedding if yours has been damaged or destroyed; costs if you’ve had to leave your home; a payment if you have evacuees staying with you in places such as a private home, marae or community centres.
Call Work and Income on 0800 400 100 for more information and to apply, MSD reopens on Monday October 7, from 8am to 6pm or go to workandincome.govt.nz.
People are also encouraged to get in touch with their insurers to make a claim.
National approach needed
The Prime Minister said a national approach was needed to help low-lying suburbs like South Dunedin adapt to climate change.
During questions from reporters, Christopher Luxon confirmed he was unaware of the city's failed bid for $132.5 million from the Treasury’s National Resilience Plan to buy at-risk properties or sites in South Dunedin to convert into flood mitigation systems in the suburb.
However, he said the country needed a national response to climate adaptation challenges "not just bespoke responses where councils go off and do their own thing".
"Importantly, for us on events like this, we also need to start to think about climate adaptation and actually how we're going to deal with all of those issues across this country.
"They are difficult issues. No one in the world has cracked those issues, because there's landowners involved and property owners.
"There's local councils, regional councils, central government, banks, insurers, and often the effects are felt in this generation and the next.
"And so what we're looking for is a bipartisan approach where we can actually have all political parties on board, knowing that there'll be different governments over the next 30, 50 years of different colours and persuasions.
"And we're trying to create a framework."
PM met by protesters
Mr Luxon this morning arrived at Dunedin Airport where he was confronted by a small group of protesters raising concerns about his government's recent announcements on the new Dunedin hospital build.
About a dozen protesters, some holding 'They save, we pay' signs, were there to challenge the Prime Minister.
Late last month the government said to build the hospital as currently designed could cost up to $3 billion, and it put a $1.88 billion cap on the Dunedin budget.
"Look, I fully understand the frustration. It's also frustrating for a government that's been in power for 10 months and inheriting this mess as well.
"This is a project that started at $1.2 billion, went to $1.6 billion, we're putting another $300 million in to bring it up to $1.9 billion.
"We're not building the most expensive hospital in the southern hemisphere at $NZ3 billion. We're going to build a great hospital for $2 billion.
"So there's an urgent review, as you understand, with a couple of options that are going to be considered, and the reason is it's important that we do deliver within our budgets."
Protesters assembled near the city council's civil defence bunker in Moray Pl late this morning in readiness for the press conference.
They made plenty of noise, chanting and jeering, one person yelling at the Prime Minister: "How can you live with yourself?"
He told reporters at the airport: "Look, we're going to build a hospital, but we're going to do it at $1.9 billion".
He told one of the protesters, Rebecca Young, "We're going to build a hospital for you for $1.9 billion, you're going to be a great hospital, it's going to be the most expensive in the southern hemisphere."
She told him not to include a carpark.
"Don't you worry, that's what the review's about so we're going to make sure we look at the options and we're going to do it fast, and we'll get you a great hospital, but it's got to be at $1.9 billion because then I can't build other hospitals," he replied.
But don't count pathology either, Ms Young said.
"Got it, got it, fully agree. So we're going to look at it all. We're going to get you a great hospital, I promise you we're committed to it but we cannot do it at $3 billion, we can do it at $1.9 billion."
Ms Young suggested the Prime Minister should not spend money on putting a roof on Auckland's Eden Park.
"Ah, you have got a great stadium (in Dunedin) and I remember all the opposition to the Forsyth Barr Stadium and look how much people love it now and it's going to be the same with your hospital, so keep the faith," Mr Luxon said.
He was then whisked away in a white van to head into the city.
About 30 protesters - some with signs and protest T-shirts - assembled there, where several police officers were also on hand.
Mr Luxon did not address them directly when he arrived but smiled and gave a thumbs-up as he was led inside.
Dunedin City Councillor Steve Walker was present, calling out "morning Prime Minister" to Mr Luxon before leading the protesters in a "liar, liar pants on fire" chant.
Protester Bill Southworth earlier said the government had made a promise, and the reasoning for the cuts was "ridiculous".
"They have betrayed the people of Dunedin."
An Otago Daily Times reporter at the scene said passing motorists were honking their horns in support of the protest.
Others there were calling for a ceasefire in the war in Gaza.
"It's hard to know what to protest because there's so much to protest," Anna Knight said.
"They call for things but they don't follow through."
Following the ORC visit, Mr Luxon headed to the Portobello Rd and Musselburgh pumping stations where he talked to workers and Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich about the city's stormwater system and other Three Waters assets.
- ODT Online/staff reporters
