Media advisory No 6

2.20pm, 7 December 2012

Tornado and severe weather at Whenuapai, Hobsonville and other parts of Auckland

Attached are two maps supplied by the Auckland Council Geospatial team showing:

1. Whenuapai-Hobsonville damage reports for Thurs 6 December:

Click for big version. [PDF]

2. Auckland region damage reports for Thurs 6 December:

Click for big version. [PDF]

STORMWATER

• Incidents being managed currently total 107:

1. West: 22

2. North: 24

3. South: 44

4. Central: 17

BUILDING ASSESSMENTS

• Civil Defence will be receiving information on the status of all affected buildings by 3:00pm.

• Security liaison contracted to Auckland Council is assisting on the ground and determining any security needs for homes deemed uninhabitable.

ELECTRICITY

• 570 households remain without power

• Vector has requested that people do not use generators to power appliances in residential houses

• It’s anticipated that the Waimarie and Totara road areas will be affected for an extended period of time

• Supply will not be connected to Waimarie Rd and Totara Rd areas until approx. Sunday 9 December.

TRANSPORT

• One lane closed on parts of Portage Rd, New Lynn

Roads closed:

• Waimarie Road (Totara Rd to Puriri Rd)

• Puriri Road (Waimarie Road to Kauri Road)

• 56 King St, Pukekohe

• Glen Mall Place

WELFARE

• Two recovery centres were set up at 10am this morning at Massey Leisure Centre, Massey and Victory Church, Freeman’s Bay, managed by Auckland Council Civil Defence staff with personnel from Housing NZ, Salvation Army, Work and Income, Child Youth and Family and Victim Support. The centres will be closed at 1700 this evening (Friday 7 December). 28 families were processed by the Massey Recovery Centre this morning

• Deployed NZ Red Cross Emergency Response team and North Shore Initial Response Team to Hobsonville to set up an Incident Control Point (ICP) and coordinate door-to-door assessments and data gathering by Ministry of Social Development teams

• The Ministry of Social Development has activated the Government helpline for people affected by yesterday’s tornado and weather event in Hobsonville and Whenuapai who require immediate, coordinated information about services and assistance

• Anyone needing assistance can phone the helpline on 0800 77 9997.

ANIMAL WELFARE

• Council is looking after misplaced animals at its West Auckland Animal Shelter, located at 48 The Concourse.

• Once the cordon is lifted, animal welfare staff will assist owners with the location of animals that were left behind when they were evacuated.

• Owners of displaced pets are encouraged to contact us to log their pet is missing by calling 09 301 0101. Our West Auckland Animal Shelter is taking good care of affected pets until they are able to be reunited with their owners.

SECURITY

• NZ Defence Force is continuing to provide assistance to Police with security and cordons of the affected area.

• A decision regarding accessibility to the cordon area is being assessed.

WEATHER UPDATE

The heavy showers affecting Auckland this morning are expected to increase during today. We can expect:

1. Heavy rain and possible hail in showers

2. Wind gusts within showers of up to 100km/hr

3. A low risk of thunderstorms forming

4. Shower activity to increase during the day with most intense rainfall and activity in the evening.

What to do as storms approach:

• Take shelter, preferably indoors away from windows;

• Avoid sheltering under trees, if outside;

• Move cars under cover or away from trees;

• Secure any loose objects around your property;

• Check that drains and gutters are clear;

• Be ready to slow down or stop, if driving.

During and after the storm, you should also:

• Beware of fallen trees and power lines;

• Avoid stream areas and drains.

Ends

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage