Deliveries by air and Unimog to parts of Hawke’s Bay still isolated

Nearly two weeks after Cyclone Gabrielle hit, parts of Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti remain cut off.

Supplies continued to be delivered to isolated communities, by air where there was no road access, and in other instances by military vehicles, Hawke’s Bay Emergency Management said.

On Sunday, two New Zealand Defence Force Unimogs delivered petrol to Rissington and diesel to Patoka, inland from Napier.

An NH90 helicopter dropped off bulk supplies of water, fuel, LPG and pet food to Putere, and civilian helicopters continued to bring food and essential supplies to other isolated areas. That was co-ordinated through a hub at Tomoana Showgrounds where up to 180 volunteers were sorting and packing the deliveries.

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On Saturday night, 157 people stayed at the civil defence centres in Napier, Wairoa District and Hastings District.

A clinical health team and a welfare team, including a Ministry for Primary Industries representative, were helicoptered in to Rissington, Te Hāroto, Tūtira and Waikoau to provide support services to residents and to assess local farmers’ needs.

A large number of Starlink wifi connections, and 119 generators, had been delivered to affected areas, Hawke’s Bay Emergency Management said.

Unison had restored power to the majority of customers in the Napier and Hastings area, but there were still 2537 customers without power, mostly in outlying rural areas, as of Sunday morning.

Waka Kotahi identified 21 bridges that had collapsed on roads managed by councils across Hawke’s Bay. Some had alternative detours or fords available, but others would require temporary bridges to be installed.