Update: Defence Force On Alert As Floodwaters Rise

Current Activity The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) continues to provide support as possible floodwaters hit the central and lower North Island.

21 personnel and eight 4x4 Unimog Trucks from Linton Army Camp are at Tangimoana providing assistance with preventative sandbagging of a floodwall. A Defence liaison officer is working with staff at Horizons Manawatu Regional Council to provide a link with Civil Defence and other agencies.

A second team from Linton Army Camp has been sent to Wanganui as a precaution to assist authorities with the possibility of flooding at high tide. Additional Defence personnel and resources will continue remain on standby to assist Civil Defence including an Air Force Iroquois helicopter at Ohakea Air Base.

Army personnel at Waiouru are also on standby to assist Civil Defence tasks in the region.

Future Activity Defence personnel will remain on standby for possible sandbagging/rescue tasks at Wanganui. Defence personnel still remain at Tangimoana continuing sandbagging and a second team is on standby to assist if required. Additional activity is concentrated on work preparations in anticipation of large river floods.

John Minto: Supercity contracts out democracy to the private sector

The dangers in the ACT/National coalition agreement are becoming clearer by the day.

The agreement goes well past maximising ACT’s 3.5% electoral support. As part of the arrangement ACT Leader Rodney Hide got himself one of the most influential cabinet roles as Minister of Local Government ahead of the development of the so-called Auckland supercity.

Up till now the focus on democracy has been how the councillors will be elected. Firstly ACT vetoed guaranteed Maori representation on the council but supported the proposal for eight councillors to be elected at large alongside just 12 elected from local wards. More>>