Mahuta NanaiaWEDNESDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2018The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Karakia.MINISTERIAL STATEMENTSCyclone Gita—ImpactsHon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister for Māori Development) on behalf of the Minister of Civil Defence: I wish to make a ministerial statement on behalf of the Minister of Civil Defence and all members of the coalition Government on the effects of ex-tropical Cyclone Gita. I wish to—SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Just to make it absolutely clear: the Minister wishes to make a ministerial statement. That's all she needs to say. If you want to say it's on behalf of that's fine but it's one Minister making it not the entire Government.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I wish to inform the House that severe weather associated with Cyclone Gita occurred across many areas of the upper South Island and lower North Island last night and will continue throughout today. The impacts of this weather event have been felt mainly in the regions of Nelson-Tasman Taranaki West Coast Manawatū-Wanganui Canterbury and Wellington with high winds flooding and slips occurring in a number of districts. Although the weather is easing the effects are still being felt as the cyclone moves slowly across the country including in South Canterbury and Otago which are currently experiencing heavy rain and even snow in some areas.Today the Minister of Civil Defence Kris Faafoi; the MP for West Coast – Tasman Damien O'Connor; and the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management Sarah Stuart-Black will be visiting some of the affected areas in Hokitika Nelson Westport and Greymouth.Yesterday seven states of local emergency were declared in Christchurch City Buller district Westland district Grey district and Selwyn district as well as the Nelson-Tasman group and the Taranaki group. Many roads were closed due to the severe weather and remain closed today including the State highway north and south of Kaikōura. A number of people in the Nelson-Tasman Selwyn Westland and Buller districts spent the night in emergency accommodation. Thankfully most will be able to return home today.Approximately 5000 residents and 1000 tourists in the Golden Bay area are isolated due to slips on the Tākaka Hill road. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) is currently assessing the damage to the road but it is unclear when the road will be operational. The NZTA is doing everything it can to restore the route although this may take several days.Thousands of homes across Taranaki were affected by power and water supply outages overnight and work is being done as quickly as possible to restore these services.As the weather has improved most states of local emergency have now been lifted. As at 1 p.m. today states of local emergency remain in place in Selwyn district New Plymouth district and the Nelson-Tasman group. The next few days will be about assessing the damage across affected regions. The main points of focus will be on the clean-up and recovery doing detailed damage assessment including aerial reconnaissance and supporting communities and travellers who are isolated or affected.The Government has been monitoring the situation throughout and providing support and advice to the local responses across the country. A number of agencies are working together to manage the response and recovery from this event including local government the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management Fire and Emergency New Zealand the New Zealand Defence Force and the New Zealand Police. People can keep themselves up to date with the latest news through the civil defence emergency management groups' social media and websites and the websites of MetService and the New Zealand Transport Agency.I know you will join me in expressing that our thoughts are with all of those affected by this emergency. I am pleased to see that local authorities and civil defence emergency management groups were well prepared for this event and I acknowledge their efforts and their dedication. Communities have also responded brilliantly. It was great that so many people took steps to keep themselves and their families safe and listened to the official advice that was given.