Cyclone Recovery

What you need to know

We will regularly update this page with the latest information. For all other cyclone related information, see the tiles below or contact our customer service team on 06 871 5000 or customer.service@hdc.govt.nz.

Land categorisation

Here you will find details of the land categorisation process underway following Cyclone Gabrielle, as well as region wide information on land categorisation and what this means more broadly.

Category 3 Voluntary Buy-out Programme

Here you will find details of the Hastings District Category 3 Voluntary Buy-out Programme following Cyclone Gabrielle

Roading recovery

As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle many of the bridges and roads across our region were impacted by slips, flooding, fallen trees and downed power lines. Click here to view the latest roading recovery information.

Cyclone recovery reports

Cyclone Gabrielle recovery reports intend to provide an overview of the significant amount of cyclone recovery work being undertaken in our district.

Havelock North dams and streams – post-Cyclone Gabrielle

This page provides information on the streams and dams of Havelock North with particular focus on the Mangarau Stream and dam, their performance during Cyclone Gabrielle, and what work Council is doing for future resilience.

Silt

Find out about silt, debris, and waste removal and management after Cyclone Gabrielle.

Financial support

Financial support is available to residents, ratepayers and businesses of Hawke’s Bay who have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Building recovery

Following Cyclone Gabrielle Hastings District Council has set up a new building recovery team to assist residents with stickered (placarded) properties.

Heretaunga Locality Plan

The Heretaunga Locality Plan is a high-level preliminary plan outlining the immediate priorities and actions that will enable communities to stand strong again and lay the framework for Heretaunga to build back better and more resilient.

Parks and trees

Although most urban parks and reserves around Hastings are now safe and open, there are still several across the district that remain closed. View the latest information.

Health advice

It's normal to have ups and downs or feel knocked off balance sometimes, especially after a significant event, but you don't have to go it alone. Free mental wellbeing support is available to help you get back on track.

Comparison map

The comparison map compares existing imagery captured between 2019 and 2022 (left side) with new satellite and aerial imagery captured between February 19 and 21, 2023 (right side)

Temporary Accommodation

Severe Weather Emergency Recovery (Temporary Accommodation) Order 2023 requires us to publish information regarding temporary accommodation on the land of a territorial authority.

Latest news

Havelock North waterways study to aid stream health and management

What do whitebait, stoneflies, and streambank slip rates have in common? They are all part of a scientific investig...

7 May 2025

Major slip repair project on Dartmoor Rd now complete

The repair of a major washout on Dartmoor Rd, between Apley Rd and Dartmoor Bridge, has been completed, restoring t...

17 April 2025

Kererū Gorge culvert rebuild complete

The local community, council, central government and contractor representatives gathered at Kererū Gorge this morn...

17 April 2025

Hastings moving ahead with emergency resilience planning

Hastings District Council has made substantial progress in emergency preparedness since Cyclone Gabrielle, but full...

11 March 2025

Community advisory group making a difference

In the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle’s impact on Havelock North, to ensure local people are actively involved in shap...

25 February 2025

Dams and streams upscaled management on track

In the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle's unprecedented impact on Havelock North's dam and stream network, Hastings Distri...

17 January 2025

Hundreds working on rural road and bridge repairs

Crews working on rebuilding rural roads and bridges damaged in Cyclone Gabrielle are back on the job, after the com...

7 January 2025

Council divesting land purchased through Category 3 buyout process

With almost all voluntary buyout offers complete and building demolitions underway where appropriate, another works...

5 December 2024

Silt Recovery Taskforce wins national award

The Silt Recovery Taskforce has received the Collaboration Excellence Award at the Association of Local Government ...

26 November 2024

Voluntary property buy-out office to close with programme complete

A year on from opening, the Cyclone Gabrielle voluntary buy-out office’s work is done, and it is being closed wit...

12 November 2024

New, large tranche of slip repairs begins

Fixing more than 30 major slips caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in rural Hastings continues, with a new contract markin...

1 November 2024

First Hastings community emergency hubs equipped and ready to go

Five community emergency hubs have been fully established in Hastings district, equipped with supplies and resilien...

22 October 2024

Kererū kids visit gorge culvert rebuild

The keen kids of Kererū School headed out to Kererū Gorge this week to check on progress with the culvert rebuild...

22 October 2024

Puketapu School children quiz contractors about new bridge

Contractors building the new Puketapu Bridge fielded a volley of questions from Puketapu School children who gather...

10 September 2024

Taihape Rd slip repairs to begin in August

Work on repairing 11 major slips along Taihape Rd caused by Cyclone Gabrielle will begin in August with the awardin...

26 July 2024

Flood review provides opportunity for more community/councils input

Hawke’s Bay’s mayors have received the findings of the Hawke’s Bay Independent Flood Review into Cyclone Gabr...

24 July 2024

Chrystal Culvert rebuild marks cyclone recovery milestone

A year and a half on from Cyclone Gabrielle, the first major permanent rebuild of a bridge/culvert is complete, wit...

19 July 2024

Governor General visits region

This week Her Excellency, The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, the Governor General of New Zealand and Dr Richard Davies vis...

20 June 2024

Next stage of Puketapu bridge rebuild to begin

Work on building a new bridge across the Tutaekuri River at Puketapu will enter a new phase next week with Fulton H...

14 June 2024

Silt Recovery Taskforce recognised for sustainable approach to clean-up

The Silt Recovery Taskforce’s sustainable approach to clean up silt and debris after Cyclone Gabrielle has been ...

31 May 2024

Strong community interest in Havelock North dams and streams

More than 60 people attended a Hastings District Council update on the Havelock North dams and streams post-cyclone...

17 May 2024

Demolition of cyclone-damaged house brings closure for owners

The first demolition of a cyclone-damaged house in Hawke's Bay has got underway, a step forward for one Pakowhai co...

13 May 2024

Clean up of destroyed bridges underway

Over the past two weeks, damaged sections of Brookfields Bridge have been removed from the Tutaekuri River waterway...

7 May 2024

Category 3 property voluntary buy-outs reach halfway mark

A significant milestone has been reached with the Voluntary Buy-out process for Category 3 property owners, with ha...

19 April 2024

Full swing for stormwater recovery works in Havelock North

Work on the Havelock North streams in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle is continuing, with drone surveys and removal o...

9 April 2024

Joint Committee fully accepts Civil Defence Independent Review findings, commits to overhaul of Hawke’s Bay’s approach to civil defence

The Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group Joint Committee fully accepts all of the findings...

25 March 2024

Feedback sought on rural subdivision plan change

Public feedback is being called for on a proposal to change Hastings district’s subdivision rules for lifestyle p...

28 February 2024

Category 3 Buy-out Policy decision

Category 3 homeowners eligible for a voluntary buy-out will not be charged a contribution toward the cost of demoli...

20 February 2024

A day of remembrance

An incredibly moving commemoration in Hastings Civic Square today [February 14] marked a year since Cyclone Gabriel...

14 February 2024

Cyclone Gabrielle – a year on we stand together

This week marks a year since Cyclone Gabrielle devastated our region – taking the lives of loved ones, homes, liv...

12 February 2024

Additional Government funding for Silt Recovery Taskforce provides boost to Hawke’s Bay’s recovery

Today’s announcement by central Government of a further $40m in funding for the Silt Recovery Taskforce is fantas...

11 February 2024

Councils to consider Cyclone Gabrielle buy-out policy change

A change to the Cyclone Gabrielle Category 3 Buy-out Policy to fix an anomaly will be considered by Hastings Distri...

30 January 2024

Hawke’s Bay’s communities invited to stand together for the first anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle

Wednesday, 14 February this year marks the first anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle.

29 January 2024

Report: Options for 2C properties on Mangarau Stream

A report outlining work that will allow the Havelock North properties categorised 2C following Cyclone Gabrielle to...

20 December 2023

Post-cyclone roading repair and rebuild programme update

With hundreds of slips cleared and culverts cleaned, and the detailed design of replacement bridges and major culve...

19 December 2023

Cyclone Gabrielle: Two Category 3 property buy-out offers accepted

By the end of this week the Cyclone Gabrielle Voluntary Buy-out Office will have conducted 100 meetings with eligib...

19 December 2023

Funding support helps build community resilience

More than $2m received in external funding has been used to supply equipment for Civil Defence Centres, the purchas...

13 December 2023

Mayoral relief fund supports those impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle

As of this month more than $1.6 million has been distributed from the Hastings Mayoral Relief Fund to people in the...

21 November 2023

New strategy for Havelock North’s five dams and streams

A major step towards unlocking $10 million of Government funding for flood mitigation in Havelock North was taken t...

20 November 2023

Cyclone Gabrielle voluntary buy-out process well underway

All Cyclone Gabrielle Category 3 property owners in Hastings and Napier have been contacted by the Voluntary Buy-ou...

14 November 2023

Hawke’s Bay Councils adopt Cyclone Gabrielle Category 3 Voluntary Buy-Out Policy

Hastings District Council and Napier City Council have today confirmed that both a Cyclone Gabrielle Category 3 Vol...

15 September 2023

Council’s Long Term Plan amendment consultation starts tomorrow

Consultation on Hastings District Council’s involvement in the voluntary purchasing of Category 3 residential pro...

17 August 2023

Redclyffe Bridge to open for restricted use

Redclyffe Bridge at Waiohiki will reopen to traffic from 11am on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, with weight and speed res...

5 August 2023

Hawke's Bay Councils finalise the terms of a cost-sharing agreement with the Government

A decision on how some of the most urgent cyclone recovery costs for Hawke’s Bay will be shared between central a...

3 August 2023

Cyclone Gabrielle: the cost of recovery

For those displaced from their homes and communities, we are deeply aware this has been five months of waiting – ...

27 July 2023

Hastings mayor welcomes interim payment announcement

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst has welcomed the announcement today that the Government will provide an interim pa...

19 July 2023

Support package for growers, farmers and businesses affected by North Island weather events

Earlier today, Ministers Robertson and McAnulty announced a support package for growers, farmers and businesses aff...

29 June 2023

Silt Recovery Taskforce making headway

The Silt Recovery Taskforce has supported hundreds of locals with cleaning up silt following Cyclone Gabrielle, shi...

22 June 2023

Council to consult on extended rates remission period for cyclone-affected properties

Rates remissions for owners of red and yellow-stickered properties could be extended for up to two years under a pr...

16 June 2023

Govt to support councils with buyout and better protection of cyclone and flood affected properties

The Government will enter into a funding arrangement with councils in cyclone and flood affected regions to support...

1 June 2023

Land categorisations provide clarity for communities across Hawke’s Bay

As leaders within Hawke’s Bay, we are pleased with today’s announcement of land categorisations which provides ...

1 June 2023

Indicative land categorisations a significant step in building back safer, stronger and smarter

Indicative land categorisations across Te-Matau-a-Māui Hawke’s Bay will be a significant step forward for enabli...

31 May 2023

Red and yellow-stickered property owners to get support payment

Owners of red and yellow stickered properties damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle in Hastings district will receive one-of...

17 May 2023

Council seeks external funding to recover costs of cyclone

In the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, Hastings District Council has spent a significant amount on rebuil...

11 May 2023

Hastings bridge restoration and repairs making progress

Nearly three months on from Cyclone Gabrielle, work continues to progress on rebuilding the bridges, culverts and l...

5 May 2023

Feedback sought on proposed rating valuation changes post-Cyclone Gabrielle

Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) with support from Hastings District Council is consulting on p...

3 May 2023

Hawke’s Bay mayors respond to announcement of categories

Today’s Government announcement of the categories under which cyclone-hit areas will be assessed for future use i...

1 May 2023

Council urges rural communities to review winter preparedness plans post-cyclone

With winter on the doorstep, Hastings District Council is urging rural communities to make reviewing their winter r...

13 April 2023

Silt collection, storage, and removal the focus of regional taskforce

A Silt Recovery Taskforce has been established to address the millions of cubic metres of silt that washed down Haw...

6 April 2023

Pop-up cellar door at Hastings isite

For the month of April, the Hastings isite and Visitor Information Centre will double as a pop-up cellar door for t...

29 March 2023

Response to recovery – what does it mean?

This week Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced we are moving into a national transition peri...

14 March 2023

Bulk storage tanks helping to fuel resilience for Kaweka and Tūtira ward communities

Residents from communities in the Kaweka and Tūtira rural wards will have regular access to a fuel supply with the...

11 March 2023

Flood damaged items collection in full swing

Crews collecting and disposing of flood damaged household items after Cyclone Gabrielle are working their way aroun...

10 March 2023

Boil water reminder for Whirinaki/Esk

Whirinaki residents may have noticed that their drinking water supply is returning intermittently. Hastings Distri...

2 March 2023

Combined effort reaching out to rural communities

While life has somewhat returned to normal for many parts of urban Hastings following Cyclone Gabrielle, it is stil...

2 March 2023

Council to resume full kerbside recycling collection service

Hasting District Council will resume kerbside recycling services from Monday, February 27.

25 February 2023

HDC Cyclone Gabrielle flood-damaged waste update

Hastings District Council is now collecting its residents’ flood-damaged household goods for free

22 February 2023

No landfill or transfer station access

Please don’t take waste to the Henderson Rd or Redclyffe Transfer Stations, or the Ōmarunui Landfill.

18 February 2023

Hawke’s Bay Disaster Relief Trust re-activated

Hawke’s Bay Mayors have today reactivated the regional Disaster Relief Trust, making it easy for people from anyw...

17 February 2023

HDC rubbish and recycling update

Cyclone Gabrielle has caused major damage to our waste and recycling facilities. Ōmarunui Landfill has been closed...