At 8.47 am NZT (New Zealand time) on 14 February 2023, the NZ government declared a National State of Emergency. The media release is below. Cyclone Gabrielle made landfall over the weekend and is making her way across the North Island. Auckland, Napier(, Taupō, Rotorua), you are special to me and I feel for you.
February, coincidentally, seems to be a month of significance.
Waitangi Day on 6th, 1840
Valentine's Day on 14th
The Christchurch Earthquake on 22nd, 2011
Covid-19 was in NZ, 2020
On the basis of 2011, the All Blacks won the Rugby World Cup; and then again in 2015. New Zealand needed that win in 2011. Well done, you did it with the eyes and the pressure of a whole country. At Eden Park. Against les Bleus.
Auckland's anniversary was on 29th January. The flooding started on the 27th. The Elton John concerts were cancelled (this is his last ever tour I think; he had to stop a show in Auckland before, because he was sick).
Now Cyclone Gabrielle is exacerbating the damage already caused. She's causing new damage to areas that weren't previously affected.
On a lesser scale, Ed Sheeran's February 10th and 11th Eden Park concerts went ahead. All I will say is 1. I'm sure resources could have been better used elsewhere. 2. How about the people who had to deal with damage left by the January flooding but had planned to go to his concert? 3. Yes, it's a nice way to get away from reality with someone who has not just one but two talents, playing guitar and singing simultaneously, and it was then or likely never, but there is an appropriate time and place.
Humans will never be able to control Mother Nature, a volcano will erupt, an earthquake will happen, it will snow, there will be a tsunami. We can only try to prepare/plan and deal with the aftermath. The aftermath may or will likely be even harder. The long-term physical and emotional damage. The NZ Government does not have the money other countries like the USA, England etc do and they are not members of an entity like the EU. They pretty much have themselves and they are considered a developed country so a lot of support/aid/relief won't be offered, if at all, like has been done for the Philippines, Pakistan, Iraq etc in previous years for difficult aftermaths. This is not a criticism and/or judgement, it's the truth.
In NZ history, this National State of Emergency is the third one.
Previously, the Christchurch Earthquake on 22nd February 2011 warranted one, from 23 February at 10.30 a.m. until 30 April 2011 at 12:00 a.m.
The second one was on 25 March 2020 at 12.21 pm, triggered by Covid-19. It was extended seven times before ending at 12.21 p.m. on 13 May 2020.
Less than three years later, the NZ Government signed and declared the country is in a National State of Emergency and the general population's psyche is there.
To all those affected, those directly impacted by the cyclone, those who are not (families, friends, pets of the frontline and essential workers etc), I hope you and your life get better. Recovery does not necessarily have an end. Mother Nature can't be controlled nor predicted down to the final detail either. Some of you in the Thames-Coromandel are going through your fifth weather event.
Auckland, I love you. Down to my core. I think I'd still live there if I could. But each of those affected, the impact will be long-term. On a city-level, it will be too. Similar, but not the same as Christchurch, after February 22nd 2011.
You have been through a fucking lot. Covid lockdowns, more and for longer than other places in NZ; the New Lynn Terror Attack in early September 2021; the January 2023 flooding and now Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. Maybe we could add the rise in crime there too.
I have awesome memories in Auckland, you have everything I could possibly want and need there, I have spent hundreds, maybe even thousands, of Kiwi dollars that were well worth it. Your zoo is fucking top-notch.
I am thinking of you Tāmaki Makaurau and cannot wait to visit you again.
Many, many of you have the strength to deal with the shit the cyclone will leave behind. This I know for sure.
-A.M.
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The New Zealand Government has this morning declared a National State of Emergency, to assist in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle.
The Minister for Emergency Management, Kieran McAnulty, signed the declaration at 8.43am.
Prior to signing the declaration he advised the Prime Minister, and the Opposition spokesperson for emergency management, who were both supportive of the declaration.
The declaration will apply to the six regions that have already declared a local State of Emergency: Northland, Auckland, Tairāwhiti, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and Hawkes Bay.
This is only the third time in New Zealand history that a National State of Emergency has been declared.
“This is an unprecedented weather event that is having major impacts across much of the North Island,” Kieran McAnulty said.
“Since Sunday, NEMA have been in close contact with local civil defence emergency management (CDEM) teams of affected areas to assess the need of a declaration of a state of National Emergency.
“NEMA has been giving advice to myself and the Prime Minister on the need of a national State of Emergency based on the assessments of the local teams, and until now the advice has been that it was not necessary.
“NEMA met with the affected CDEM groups. Based on feedback from the groups and NEMA
I consider that the criteria have now been met and a National State of Emergency would be beneficial.
“The local leadership, CDEM groups, and emergency responders in all of the affected areas have been doing an outstanding job, but the widespread damage caused by this cyclone means we need a National declaration to support them.
“This declaration will enable the Government to support the affected regions, provide additional resources as they are needed, and help set the priorities across the country for the response.
“A National State of Emergency gives the National Controller legal authority to apply resources across the country in support of a national level response.
“This declaration gives us the ability to coordination further resources for affected regions. I want to emphasise that the Government has already been surging support and resources to the regions for some days.”
Sources:
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