A $50 million support packge for cyclone-hit businesses and farmers is being praised by Gisborne business leaders, while National says there's a lack of detail regarding financial support.Gisborne-Tai Rāwhiti Chamber of Commerce president Belinda Mackay said the fund was exactly what businesses had asked for to help them rebuild.National Party leader Christopher Luxon said the government needed to urgently provide more detail about who will be eligible for financial support and under what conditions.The death toll from the cyclone remains at 11 and police are still investigating reports of 2246 uncontactable people. More than 4200 people reported as unaccounted for have been found to be safe.Water restrictions remain in Gisborne and Wairoa residents are still being told to boil their water.Fibre connections have been restored and cellphone tower coverage is at about 95 percent across the flood damaged regions, though some are still on generators and can only carry phone calls and texts.The national state of emergency was extended on Monday for a further seven days.The government also earmarked $250m for the National Land Transport fund's emergency budget to rebuild roads.

Almost 30,000 homes have no power and major supply chains have been disrupted - and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is also warning that more fatalities remain possible.Prime Minister has fronted an update on the government's response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Wellington late this afternoon.Hipkins said it was now seven days after the cyclone passed through and the true extent of the devastation and loss was becoming clearer with every passing day."Lives have been turned upside down, many people have seen their homes and all their possessions completely destroyed. Countless others have been displaced, tragically so far 11 people have lost their lives, and more fatalities remain possible."He said 28,000 homes remained without power."Telecommunications have been severely disrupted, fresh water is in short supply in some areas and roads have been badly damaged, limiting access to some areas and causing significant delays in others."He said supply chains had been disrupted and moving goods around had been "incredibly challenging"."Crops have been badly damaged, many completely destroyed."Earlier today, police confirmed two further deaths relating to the cyclone, bringing the total to 11.Hipkins today paid tribute to emergency services and first responders, who had done New Zealand proud."Many have worked themselves to utter exhaustion. The stress and strain of the last week is clearly starting to show, and particularly in places where power and communications remains disrupted, we know that tensions can be high."He said nobody should underestimate the psychological toll this disaster was taking on some of our fellow Kiwis."The past week has pushed many to their limit, even more so given it comes on top of other weather events, the disruption of a global pandemic and too many other significant and disruptive challenges to mention - our resilience is being tested like never before."But as we've repeatedly seen in recent times, adversity brings out the best in Kiwis. We rally together and we support each other. We look out for our neighbours, we go the extra mile to protect the vulnerable, we share and we care. "The Australian emergency responders announced on Friday they're supporting Fire & Emergency NZ with a 27-person impact assessment team and Hipkins said 25 of them were already on the ground in the Hawke's Bay, with two supporting the national co-ordination centre.He said Aotearoa had also accepted an offer of support from Fiji - 10 personnel from their defence force, four fire authority crew and four national disaster management officials are preparing to leave for New Zealand in the coming days.He added that the United States and Australia - through the New Zealand Defence Force - had provided crucial satellite imagery products of the affected areas."And we're in the final stages of working to accept an offer from the Australian Defence Force who will support the New Zealand Defence Force with a C-130 transport aircraft, air load teams to rig freight on the aircraft and environmental health staff to assist in analysing health risks."All of this will be a great help and we thank Fiji and the United States as we thank Australia."Hipkins said making a monetary donation was the single most helpful thing people can do in the wake of the cyclone to support those disrupted communities, because "that enables the support organisations to [require] what is needed in those communities".He said there was no doubt that New Zealand had a steep mountain ahead of it."Our attention over the past week has been focused on the initial emergency response, rescuing those stranded, restoring lifelines and removing hazards. In some areas that still remains very much the focus, in other areas though, recovery is starting to get underway."As the shape of the damage and the need becomes clearer we'll be able to shape our response accordingly."We know that the will come with a big price tag and we will have to once again reprioritise and refocus our efforts and our resources. We will build back better, but we will also need to build back more resilient than before."He said the country had underinvested in infrastructure for far too long and that had to change."If we're going to build back better and if we're going to build back quickly, some tough calls will need to be made, and I'm absolutely committed to doing that."

Warkworth regionMonday 20th February - Fine. Light winds and afternoon sea breezes.Tuesday 21st February - Mainly fine, apart from isolated showers. Light winds.Wednesday 22nd February - Partly cloudy, with isolated showers clearing in the evening. Westerlies developing in the morning.Thursday 23rd - Isolated showers, turning to occasional rain. Southwesterlies, turning southeasterly.Whangarei / Mangawhai regionMonday 20th February - Fine. Light winds and afternoon southeasterlies.Tuesday 21st February - Mainly fine, apart from a possible shower or two in the afternoon. Light winds.Wednesday 22nd February - A few showers. Southwesterlies.Thursday 23rd - A few showers. Southwesterlies.

Help is on the way for thousands of displaced homeowners struggling with insurance claims after the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.The government is introducing the New Zealand Claims Resolution Service to help avoid disputes, resolve issues, and settle claims for homeowners after a natural disaster.The service is modelled on the Greater Christchurch Claims Resolution Service (GCCRS) and Residential Advisory Service (RAS), which were used during the Canterbury earthquakes and proved to be successful with insurance companies.Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Duncan Webb said the majority of 10,000 users found it highly effective for resolving claims with their insurer."Loss of trust, lack of technical expertise or just people being overwhelmed and anxious and over it. What this did is it gave people assistance, it came alongside, helped them. So 90 percent of the people who have used this said they'd recommend it to someone else to go there if they had an insurance problem after a natural disaster," Webb said.Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Duncan Webb Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstonePeople should work things through with insurers first but the support was there if people got stuck, he said."If you are feeling overwhelmed, if you are feeling that you don't have the technical advice that you need or if you're just not sure that you're insurer's doing the right thing by you, this is absolutely the right place to come," Webb said."So use those 0800 numbers or drop into one of the community hubs , just get hold of the service and they're there to help."Homeowners who have concerns about their claim or are unsure about the process can contact NZCRS on 0508 624 327, email [email protected] or visit (tthe website)."The service will be up and running by Monday, with case managers on the ground at community hubs in Auckland.It will also be available locally for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle as soon as possible, but they will still be able to use the phone service.

Areas of rural Northland are still struggling with flooding, power outages and slips - days after Cyclone Gabrielle hit the area.The storm tore through Hokianga on Sunday and Monday before causing catastrophic damage in Auckland, Coromandel, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay.The severe weather warning is no longer in effect and Northland is in cleanup and recovery mode.Geoff Crawford of Crawford Farms near Whangārei, says the cyclone wreaked havoc in the Hukurangi Swamp."We farm about 500 hectares of land on the Hikurangi Swamps, 450 hectares of it is under water at the moment."The Hikurangi Swamps is around 5200 hectares, probably 4500 hectares is under water" said Crawford.Up to 90 percent of kūmara crops have been destroyed, he said."It's quite significant, it's going to be a major blow to the New Zealand economy."There's not going to be any kūmara from us this year."A Northland farmer, facing a fifth day without power or water, said there had been absolutely no contact from civil defence or any other authorities since the cyclone struck.Kaipara District, Northland on Tuesday. Photo: RNZ / Soumya BhamidipatiMichelle Hill lives in Pikiwahine, south west of Whangārei, and told RNZ there were major slips and had been no power, very sporadic internet access and no running water since midday Monday.Local farmers have cleared the road, but Hill said there had been no outside contact."Not at all...there was a helicopter that flew around a lot yesterday afternoon, a really big one - we can only assume it was Northpower or the army but the only real contact has been through the radio," she said.Farmers were generally a "fairly hardy bunch" and had dealt with long power cuts before, she said, but what had been so striking this time was having no access to phones or the internet."When that fails, we could have gone back to smoke signals and pigeons and be better off, we really have no contact with the outside world and we've no idea when the power's coming on still - I've just been cleaning out my freezer because it's rotten."We've heard all these messages on the radio about websites to go to...but we've got no ability to get online, really kept in the dark - literally.Hill said she recognised there were people elsewhere in great need but offered this advice: "If there are people out there who are linked to farmers, I'd say check on them, if they're family or friends, if you can, offer your support."Northland Federated Farmers chief executive John Blackwell said he had been disconnected from civilisation."I think a lot of people are still stunned, it's hard to believe that we've had so many weather events in New Zealand this year - and we're only in the second month," Blackwell said.Much of the kūmara supply comes from the Kaipara district, but this year there would be a shortage.Towns in and near the Bay of Islands area in Northland, including Moerewa, Kawakawa, and Paihia, have seen damage, debris, flooding, and tree falls from Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: Supplied / Joe RapanaKaipara mayor Craig Jepson said the worst was over for his region but hundreds were still in need of support.Hundreds of households in Dargaville and the surrounding area were still without power.Jepson's focus was on meeting the needs of people who are still struggling."I am really proud of the way the community and partner agencies have pulled together. It has been so good to be able to closely coordinate our efforts with FENZ, police and defence force services."Northpower has done a great job of restoring power to almost 30,000 customers so far, he said.Schools were also struggling with attendance rates because of damage to the roads and infrastructure.Kaikohe East School Principal Chicky Rudkin said many students and teachers could not attend."Lots of our children have not come back to school just because they live in areas where there's lots of flooding so either their whānau don't have power or the busses couldn't get through."We had probably around 40 percent of our school role here yesterday and we've got staff that had no power for four or five days."While the big clean up was underway, there was some light at the end of the tunnel for biggest outdoor event north of Auckland, the Northland Field Days was still scheduled to take place in Dargaville next month.

Kaipara District councillor Ash Nayyar says he has been inspired by the human spirit after being rescued from raging floodwaters in the early-morning darkness.Awakino Point-based Nayyar and his wife Mamti clung to the outside of a fire engine as they were rescued in the dark from their Awakino Point home about 4.30am on Tuesday, amid driving rain and rapidly rising Awakino River floodwaters.He was up early meditating ahead of a planned 5.30am meeting with Northland Regional Council Kaipara councillor John Blackwell, and returning to their mission of the previous day checking on the Dargaville community as Cyclone Gabrielle hit Northland."My wife looked out into the darkness from the house and said "you won't be going anywhere".Angry swirling floodwaters were rapidly rising and coming through their deck, about half a metre off the ground. Nayaar rang 111."It just happened, overnight. It was life and death," Nayyar said on Thursday.The fire engine, loaded with half a dozen people clinging to its chassis, drove into the darkness from their home on the eastern outskirts of Dargaville along State Highway 14 towards town, to a nearby safe point at the distinctive giant grain silos alongside the highway."The water levels were rising quickly, my wife was praying as we clung to the side of the fire engine."Among the evacuees clinging to side was a guest staying with the Nayyars from the willing workers on organic farms (Woofer) network.Nayyar said there was lots going on around them in the darkness at the grain silos as about 10 soaked evacuees gathered. Business owners were at their premises all around in the light industrial area trying to secure their properties. There were flashing lights in the raging wind and rain."I was shivering. I remember a kind man, a volunteer there to help us giving me his jacket," Nayyar said.The first-term KDC councillor then got the opportunity to see first-hand his council's Dargaville civil defence evacuation centre where he would end up staying for the night.He called councillor Blackwell, with whom he had the previous day organised to meet, asking for a lift to the Holy Trinity Anglican church.Nayyar went to the evacuation centre, checked on his wife who had already been taken there, then headed straight out into the streets of Dargaville with Blackwell to help the fearful community."I just love Dargaville," Nayyar said.He spent the whole day checking on the community and helping out.Nayyar spent just a single night at the evacuation centre before heading out to help the community again on Wednesday. He and his wife were able to return to their home to sleep last night and have begun the long process of cleaning up.He was overwhelmed with the kindness shown to him during the family's early morning rescue and beyond."I got to see the good in people in a time of distress. That's the message I have taken from this," Nayyar said.On Wednesday he was able to pick up his goat Betty, the single goat saved from his two swept away in the floodwaters. Betty had been taken to the nearby Northland agricultural Fieldays site by a member of the Brethren community and into a barn for safety.The Nayyars' plastic greenhouses where Mamti was growing Asiatic vegetables were destroyed.

Matakana Dental wish to advise their customers that they are open. They have no internet or phone contract currently. So they apologise if you are struggling to contact them.Please call the Snells Beach practice on 09 422 9993 https://www.matakanadental.co.nz/

Dome Valley has been closed for days due to Cyclone Gabrielle with many slips. However they have now been cleared and it is open to traffic.Expect traffic management in some locations and take extra care.Brynderwyns are still closed, use Waipu detour.

Some photos of Cyclone Gabrielle hitting Matheson Bay and Leigh wharf hard on Monday 13th February. Thank you to Jenny Nicholls and Grant Sneddon for the photos. Locals have been spotted clearing the area with diggers etc.

A quick update to let you know you are not alone in the outages and frustrations!Many cell towers from all telephone communication companies have been severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. They are working to restore cell coverage and internet as fast as they can. Many people have no coverage or intermittent. Best to contact your provider to see what they can do for you. Also follow their FB pages to see updates etc.Here are some tips from RNZ that may be helpful now or in the future:Fixed line internetIf you are on an ADSL or VDSL connection (via your phone line) and the power in your area or a neighbouring street is out: These often run out of street-side cabinets that use the same mains power as the properties in the street.When power to the cabinet goes off, a battery-based uninterruptible power supply in the cabinet will take over - for something like 24 to 48 hours. Once this is exhausted, your DSL connection will go down as well. Use it before it dies.Mobile data / text / callsMobile data is an alternative to fixed line Internet but not available with sufficient capacity everywhere. In an emergency, stick to text and voice calls as much as possible, also text-based messenger apps, to conserve battery power both for your phone and for the cell sites. Minimise use of video calling. It's also not a good time to hunker down with Netflix, TikTok, YouTube, Vimeo, or any other video-based application.When using your mobile, try to go to a place where you get a good signal: Outside, ideally within direct view of the cell site, as close to the cell site as possible (if you know where it is and of course if it is safe to do so). The fewer walls, windows and obstacles, the better. Coarse rule of thumb: halving the distance to the cell site means using one quarter of the power, so your battery lasts a lot longer. Keep communications short.Turn mobile phones off that aren't needed: If the entire whānau are together, work out who really needs to operate their phone and who doesn't. Phones "talk" to cell sites even if they are not actively calling / texting / surfing and this also drains batteries at both ends.Consider using SIM cards from two providers in a dual-SIM phone: If one network can't provide coverage, another might.Wireless / Satellite internetThere are a number of providers in New Zealand offering such services, e.g.: Gravity (getgravity.nz, satellite), Woi (woi.co.nz, satellite), Uber NZ (uber.nz, terrestrial wireless, nothing to do with the taxi company), Wireless Nation (wirelessnation.co.nz, terrestrial wireless), Farmside (farmside.co.nz, terrestrial wireless) and others.If your usual provider is not able to help where you are, they may be able to. Expect them to be crazy busy right now, though.StarlinkThis is a satellite service available across NZ (starlink.com) based on an up-front hardware cost and a monthly subscription. It is relatively easy to set up compared to other satellite services and mostly plug and play, giving you a WiFi router as part of the package. You need a spot with a relatively clear view of the southern sky or it will not work all that well.There are also limits to the number of users Starlink can support in a given area and in some areas in New Zealand, this limit has been reached and Starlink will defer orders from those areas until more capacity is available (starlink.com has an availability map).Comparable in performance to a good ADSL/VDSL connection and sometimes better than that, depending on where you are and how many other users there are in your area. It will take a generator or mains power to run - it consumes about 100W at peak.

It is now possible to get from Auckland to Whangarei and beyond, but expect stop/go, delays and be cautious driving out there!CLOSEDPakiri Hill Road – blocked and not passable use Matakana Valley Road.SH1 DOME Valley is closed. Due to slips & fallen trees SH1 is closed through the Dome Valley, between Kaipara Flats Rd and Wayby Valley Rd, USE SH16.SH1 closed at Brynderwyns, take alternative Waipu route.SH 1 Mangamuka Gorge: CLOSED due to slips. Detour through SH10OPENSH1 from Auckland until Warkworth is open, then you need to take Matakana Valley Road or SH16 to get further north. As Dome Valley and Brynderwyns are closed.Matakana Valley Road – slips, down to one lane, be very careful. Large vehicles won’t make it. Stop/go in place.SH16 under caution. Take extra care, drive with caution as there are patches where the road is narrowed with slips and trees but still passable. Possible to get from Auckland to Whangarei using SH16, SH1, Waipu detour.SH 16 Waimauku to Helensville: OPEN (8am Update) Drive with care.SH 14 Dargaville to Maungatapere: OPEN (8am update) Drive with careSH 12 Dargaville, near Baylys Rd: OPEN (8am update) Drive with careSH 15 Maungatapere to Twin Bridges: OPEN (8am update) Drive with care

Auckland Emergency Management may fly supplies in to areas of the region's west coast with no power or road access.Around 300 homes in Muriwai are in peril from slips, while 20 homes were evacuated in Piha yesterday and five homes in Karekare have been destroyed in slips.Karekare resident and former Waitākere City mayor Sir Bob Harvey said they are completely cut off, with 10 visible major slips.They have been walking in food supplies, Sir Bob said."We've got a system going where we can drive down to the slips and cart them round the edges. It's a bit of a mule trip over a hump and bump through the bush and we can take cartons of food down."It was an emotional time for residents who are dealing with the trauma of losing houses and the danger of slips, he said."Five [houses] have come down including a terrific house up on the hill built by a beautiful loving couple and they were in it when it started to move. I guess of all the houses we thought wouldn't move, this one did. They are now safe."Sir Bob said another house resembled "matchwood" after collapsing in a slip - its occupants, a woman and her two children, now safe.A house collapsed after a slip on Rayner Road, Piha, west of Auckland. Photo: SuppliedThe Surf Lifesaving club has become a lifeline, he said."The whole of the Karekare community is truly cut off, no one can get down and no one can get up so the Surf Club has become a vital communication and comfort stop."It has a power generator and 30 bunk beds, all full."We have adequate accommodation. I didn't realise it would be so emotional, we're kind of traumatised in a way. We're going to suffer from post Gabrielle trauma it's going to affect us for a long time."Auckland Council director of regulatory services Craig Hobbs said they still did not yet know the full extent of damage in the coastal communities.

As a huge effort ramps up to restore essential services to thousands of people in Tairāwhiti and Hawke's Bay, police hold 'grave concerns' for some reported missing.Five people have been confirmed killed in the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle. In Hawke's Bay, a child was caught in rising water in the settlement of Eskdale, a woman died in a landslide, a body was found on the shore at Bay View, and a body believed to be caught in flood waters was found in Gisborne.The body of a volunteer firefighter who had been missing in Muriwai, near Auckland, since Monday night was recovered yesterday.By Wednesday, more than 1400 people had been reported as uncontactable using the police 105 online reporting form, mostly in Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti.While police expected a large number of the reports to be the result of communication lines being down, they confirmed they held "grave concerns" for several people missing in the Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti areas.With communities in cut-off regions having limited reception, here's RNZ's text-only updates on what those in Tairāwhiti, Coromandel and Hawke's Bay need to know.And here are a few tips for people in affected areas on getting around network connection problems.The navy ship HMNZS Manawanui is due in Tairāwhiti Thursday morning with water supplies, and HMNZS Te Mana will sail to Napier to supply Wairoa with water and other essentials.The Defence Force expects to move a water treatment facility to Wairoa, and a rapid relief team that reached the town on Wednesday will be handing out up to 500 food packages.Engineers and roading crews are checking bridges and clearing roads throughout both regions.Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is due to fly to Gisborne Thursday morning in what will be his first in-person look at the scale of destruction from Cyclone Gabrielle.

Cyclone Gabrielle may have bypassed most of Northland, but its outer reaches are still leaving a wake of destruction.The region is still feeling the force of the ex-tropical cyclone, with multiple evacuations in Dargaville and Whangārei on Tuesday, despite the easing weather.Between the two, the small farming district of Tangiteroria is drowning in murky floodwaters, which stretch across hundreds of acres of land.Dion Blaxland's home is almost surrounded. His wife and children evacuated on Sunday, but he stayed to secure their home and animals as best he could."Because your home's your home," he said. "It's your livelihood, that's where you live, and your kids live, so yeah you come back to keep an eye on things."If it'd actually hit the house, yeah, I would've just jumped in the truck and gone, because I can't do anything else."Most of his neighbours would be doing the same, Blaxland said. He has been without electricity since Sunday. Although inconvenient, he said it was not the end of the world."I'm on tank water, so my pump won't go because I've got no power," he said."I've got a digger bucket out there, fresh water's falling in from the sky, so I'll just go out and top up the water on that. If I need to boil it, I'll boil it on the hob."Flooding in Tangiteroria. Photo: Soumya Bhamidipati / RNZWhile it seems the worst may have passed for Whangārei residents, for some the bad weather is still not over.On Whareora Road, Mike Procter's place needs a huge clean-up after a landslip from higher ground across the road sent a slew of mud through the property, about 8pm on Monday."It was not there and then it was there... it's like someone just turned on the tap, it just rushed through," he said."We were actually hunkered down, we were just watching a movie, thinking things were going to be fine."We're really fortunate it didn't come into the house - it came really close, it came right up to the doorstep."With Civil Defence declaring the house still safe, the family is looking forward to moving back in."I'd much rather this than flood water coming into the house, because that's carpets up, and gib board," he said."It was 12 months last time we had a flood through this valley, for a lot of these houses, to get people, residents back into their houses, so it's good ... strangely, it's a silver lining. We're happy."Mike Procter's place. Photo: Soumya Bhamidipati / RNZMeanwhile, homes on nearby Hakawai Lane were evacuated because of the risks of further slips.With many homes still uninhabitable, thousands of power outages and a ray of sunshine yet to peek through the grey, Northland residents are ready to say goodbye to Gabrielle.

If you live in Kaipara:A message from Kaipara RefuseUpdate: Wednesday 15th February Dargaville, Ruawai, Paparoa, Maungaturotio, KaiwakaPlease note - these collections are for RUBBISH ONLY. please hold on to your recycling until collections return to normal next week. We will endevour to complete the above collections, but as you will be aware, there is alot of houses that we may not be able to get to due to fallen trees and slips. If you find your bag is not collected, please take it in and we will pick it up next week. At this stage we will not be returning to Mangawhai until Monday. If this changes, we will notify you through our fb page. If you are able, you can take your blue and yellow bags to the Hakarau transfer station, free of charge.Dargaville Transfer Station week be open as usual, 9am to 4pm.Recycling depot in Ruawai is CLOSED today. It will reopen 22nd February.We thank you for your patience during this testing time, please be safe and look after yourselves.If you live in RodneyA message from Auckland CouncilKerbside collections to resume on Wednesday  With Auckland’s most severe weather due to subside from tonight, rubbish, recycling and food scrap collections will resume from Wednesday. The normal collection cycle will apply, which means that some residents will have to wait until early next week for their usual rubbish collection, and a fortnight for their usual recycling collection. If your collection was cancelled and your rubbish is unsafe to store, you can take it to one of the 15 participating Auckland waste transfer stations free of charge when it is safe to do so. Before heading to a transfer station, make sure to check the opening hours in this information sheet [PDF]. The collection of flood-damaged items will restart from tomorrow, Wednesday 15 February. If you have already lodged a request for assistance, or collection of your flood-damaged items from the kerbside, we have you on our list and we will get to you as soon as it is safe for us to do so. We appreciate your patience as we continue to work through those requests.  

Reports coming through of it being possible to get from Auckland to Warkworth then Whangarei, but Dome is closed. Use SH1, SH16, then Waipu detour.CLOSED Matakana Valley Road – slips, down to one lane, be very careful. Large vehicles won’t make it.Pakiri Hill Road – blocked and not passable use Matakana Valley Road.SH1 DOME Valley is closed. Due to slips & fallen trees SH1 is closed through the Dome Valley, between Kaipara Flats Rd and Wayby Valley Rd, and likely to remain closed all day today (Wed 15 Feb). USE SH16.SH16 under caution. Take extra care, drive with caution as there are patches where the road is narrowed with slips and trees but still passable. Possible to get from Auckland to Whangarei using SH16, SH1, Waipu detour.SH1 closed at Brynderwyns, take alternative Waipu route.SH12 is closed between Omapere and Dargaville .. and also near Baylys RdSH16 closed at Kaukapakapa CAUTIONTakatu Road in Tawharanui has road damage where big cracks have formed. Down to one lane in places.If you have further updates please email us [email protected]

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says it has been "a very big night for New Zealanders", particularly in the upper North Island.Hipkins gave an update hours after the government declared a national state of emergency over Cyclone Gabrielle.It is only the third time in New Zealand's history an event has met the national state of emergency criteria, following the Christchurch earthquake in 2011 and Covid-19.Limited communications"A lot of families displaced, a lot of homes without power, extensive damage done across the country."Overnight it's difficult in the dark to find out exactly what's happening. At first light this morning as soon as the extent of the disruption and the damage became clear, advice was provided to the minister and therefore through the minister to me that a state of national emergency should be declared and we acted on that immediately."He says government will be working as quickly as possible with agencies and telecommunications companies to restore communication.Hipkins also thanks first responders and says the volunteer response across the country has been phenomenal."I had the opportunity to speak just before with some of the families from Muriwai who were evacuated in the middle of the night, they were indicating they had felt incredibly well supported."We'll continue to work with those community groups to make sure that we're providing them with as much support as we can so that they can provide support to the communities that have been affected."Hipkins says one of the challenges with Gisborne at the moment is limited communications."That has proven to be very difficult in the last few hours."There will be an opportunity for the government to have a good look at the situation with the slash, he says.Hipkins says he hopes to get back to Wellington today, and has had a briefing from the team at National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).The defence force is on the ground, providing logistical support, helping with evacuations, and moving supplies. They will help with the clean-up as appropriate "when we get to that point", he says."This extreme weather event ... probably the biggest we have seen in recent times comes hot on the heels of other extreme weather events that we have seen."It is a particularly tiring time, a particularly stressful time, so I want to again on behalf of all New Zealanders reiterate out thanks to all those who are working around the clock for those who need that extra support."Natural and Built Environments billHipkins says the Natural and Built Environments bill before Parliament - the main replacement legislation for the RMA - will have an effect on where houses are built."That will place a much greater emphasis on natural hazards when it comes to things like deciding where we build. That is something where I think we've got a long history of perhaps poor past decisions in New Zealand that we're confronting right now. It's not that helpful for people who are up to their waists in water to be having that debate right now but it is one we need to have as a country.""All of the other things as a country we've dealt with over the last few years ... the last decade and a half or so we've had everything from earthquakes, natural disasters, volcanic eruptions, weather events. It is a lot, and for some people those things accumulate and the mental health impact could be a significant one."We're very aware of that as a government and we'll be making sure we provide as much mental health support as we can."Families in financial distressHipkins says a lot of families are already in financial distress."It'll take us a few days to really get a handle on how many families have been affected by these extra events over the last few days when it comes to the extreme weather. That will include working with insurance companies and relevant community agencies to support the most vulnerable," he says."We'll make sure we're getting energy to where it's most needed, most urgently."Hipkins says he had a pre-arranged call with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this morning and the first thing they spoke of was the cyclone, and the UK's support to the people of New Zealand.Hipkins says the recovery effort will be front and centre for the government's programme over the next weeks and months."We know that this won't be an overnight recovery, it's going to take a while, some people will be displaced from their homes for an extended period ... businesses will continue to feel the tail of this for some time and we'll need to support them through that as well."He says having spoken to some of the evacuees at the Trusts Stadium where the briefing is being held, many were feeling supported but did not get much sleep last night."They're feeling very well cared for but of course they're displaced... I think people generally accept that this is an extreme weather event.""Like it or not you can have the best technology in the world but until the sun comes up and you can actually see what's going on, there's a limited amount that you can actually do and know overnight."He says the winds are very strong and that will probably be limiting the amount of support that can be provided by air.The defence force is providing support by land and by sea, he says.Parliament's business committee will be deciding in a meeting about lunchtime how the event affects Parliament's sitting schedule.On Princess Anne's visit to New Zealand, Hipkins says he welcomes her despite the extreme weather. He had been planning to meet with her but those plans may be affected, he says.'I would ask all businesses to be responsible'Hipkins asks all employers to be responsible in what they are asking of staff."There are some essential businesses that will be asking their staff to come back to work including so that they can keep essential supply lines open, food for example - people need to continue to be able to buy food - so those decisions are best made by businesses but I would ask all businesses to be responsible."Follow the latest with live updates in RNZ's live blog.Read more:Cyclone Gabrielle: What the national state of emergency meansCyclone Gabrielle: Flooding and land slips isolate some Auckland regionsFirefighters trapped, injured in Auckland's Muriwai house collapseBy the numbers: Cyclone Gabrielle's impactCyclone Gabrielle: Who to call, what to do if the roof comes off or windows smashNational state of emergency: What you need to knowThe New Zealand government has declared a National State of Emergency, to assist in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle.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 Hawke's Bay.A national state of emergency gives the national controller legal authority to apply further resources across the country and set priorities in support of a national level response.National Emergency Management Agency advice:Put safety first. Don't take any chances. Act quickly if you see rising water. Floods and flash floods can happen quickly. If you see rising water do not wait for official warnings. Head for higher ground and stay away from floodwater.Stay at home if it is safe to do so. But have an evacuation plan in case your home becomes unsafe to stay in.If you have evacuated, please stay where you are until you are given the all-clear to go home.People should stay up to date with the forecasts from MetService and continue to follow the advice of Civil Defence and emergency services.Do not try to walk, play, swim, or drive in floodwater: even water just 15 centimetres deep can sweep you off your feet, and half a metre of water will carry away most vehicles. Flood water is often contaminated and can make you sick.

SORRY FOR THE DELAYS FOLKS WE HAVE HAD NO POWER LIKE MANY OUT THERE. STAY SAFE AND HOME IF YOU CAN.CLOSEDDOME Valley - Due to slips & fallen trees is closed through the Dome Valley. Delay your journey.PUHOI - SH 1 Puhoi Off-ramp Southbound - Due to a fallen tree the SH1 off-ramp to Hibiscus Coast Hwy (Toll free route) is closed. Use alternative exit to Orewa after tunnels.PAKIRI Hill is closed due to slipsAHURORA ROAD - near PuhoiMATAKANA ROAD - Between Sharp road and Anderson roadLEIGH ROAD to Oak River Drive and to Omaha Flats Road.MATAKANA VALLEY ROAD - massive slips.TE ARAI - Waiteitei RoadSH16 near GLORIT and Kaipara Hills Road intersection - massive slips covering the entire road. Not passable.BRYNDERWYNSMANGAWHAI - Molesworth DriveMANGAWHAI ROAD - near Cames road is blocked, not passable.CAUTIONSH 1 Auckland Harbour Bridge - Due to severe wind gusts reduced speed limits and lane reductions are in place. A temporary full closure may be required if winds gust over 90km/h. Take extra care. High-sided vehicles and motorcyclists should consider delaying their journey or detour via SH18/SH16.MAHURANGI WEST - Due to a slip between Mahurangi West Rd and Schollum Access Rd, SH1 is open under stop/go traffic management. Expect delays.SH1 Warkworth to Wellsford - Due to a rockfall north of Waiwhiu Rd, southbound lanes are partially blocked. Delay your journey if possible and take care.TE HANA - Due to reports of flooding, caution is advised in this area.MANGAWHAI ROAD - SH 1 Just south of Mangawhai Road, Wellsford - Due to slips in this area caution is advised. There may be road closures. Expect delays.WELLSFORD - Fallen tree/s across highway on Point Albert Road near Wellsford - Due to reports of a fallen tree, caution is advised in this area.SH16 SH 16 Kaukapakapa to Wellsford - Due to a fallen tree and powerlines down just north of West Coast Rd, stop/go traffic management is in place. Drive with caution through the area and delay your journey if possible.More updates to come

CLOSED ROADSTOPUNI - SH1 heading North before Topuni tree down across the highway.MANGAWHAI - Mangawhai Road, near Cemetery Road a tree has fallen across the road with no access. Detour around Coal Hill road or Te Arai.MANGAWHAI - Another tree down over half the road on Mangawhai Rd about 1km of Vipond Rd MANGAWHAI - Garbolino Road near Tara end there is a tree down.MANGAWHAI - Tomarata Road / Coal Hill Road is closed, extends to Cames Road.MANGAWHAI - Cove Road -down to one lane due to a fallen treeKAIWAKA - no access to property beyond 1180 Oneriri Road due to a fallen treeKAIPARA - Road closures due to fallen tree - ❌Cassidy Road, ❌Marlborough RoadKAIPARA - There are also fallen trees/flooding reported at Black Swamp Road, Tinopai Road and Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Road, Montgomery Ave.HAKARU - tree and power lines down across Settlement Road, no access.RUAWAI - Access Road closed due to a fallen treeBRYNDERWYNS will be closed from 6pm today (Sunday)SH16 is closed.LEIGH - Power lines down on Frost Rd and Wharf Rd. Vector notified. Roads closed till further notice.WHANGARIPO ROAD/WELLSFORD - has been closed from Rusty Brook Rd to the other end of the dips, as there is power lines and trees down.CAUTIONPort Albert Rd just by Underwood road. Down to one lane.Southbound in the Dome before the hill leading to the speed camera is a slip with large rocks blocking the road. (You can get past on northbound lane).Be careful going down Pakiri road about 1km before goat island turn off. Tree fallen and trunk sticking out on road. Hard to see coming around the corner. Go slow.KAIPARA - Road down to one lane due to fallen tree - ⭕️Batley Road, ⭕️Access Road, ⭕️Pahi RoadMATAKANA - Slip at the bottom of Matakana Hill going to Pakiri. Down to one lane.OPENHarbour Bridge is now open but lanes are restrictedLeigh Road new Tram Car bay is now open, tree removed.