Feedback wanted to weather future storms

Northlanders impacted by this year’s severe weather events are encouraged to share their experiences as part of a government inquiry.

The Government Inquiry into the North Island Severe Weather Events has set up the Share to Prepare website with online tools and resources. It allows people to have their say as part of the inquiry into the response to the North Island severe weather events earlier this year, chaired by former Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae.

Share to Prepare offers several ways for people to come together with their stories and experiences of the weather events. There is an online submission form that takes 10-20 minutes to complete, information in an easy-to-read format, resources for community groups to participate in online discussions, and a portal to submit reports. The final day for Share to Prepare submissions is November 30. Since January, the Far North has faced ex-tropical Cyclone Hale, Cyclone Gabrielle, and another 10 heavy rain events. It is the district’s wettest year in more than 70 years.

Sir Jerry said New Zealand can expect more of these events, so the country must prepare. Part of that is getting feedback from those who experienced the storms or have input they want to share.

The independent inquiry will look at the preparedness and response of local and central governments, the communities and businesses disproportionately impacted by the weather, the support provided by iwi, and the roles played by support groups and organisations that provided essential infrastructure.

Through feedback from those affected, the inquiry looks to draw lessons from the weather events to ensure New Zealand’s emergency management system is ready to respond to future natural emergencies.

Photo: The Far North has seen its wettest year in more than 70 years.