Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use
The Hon Stuart Nash (Minister of Forestry) and the Hon David Parker (Minister for the Environment) announced on 23 February 2023 a Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use (MILU) causing woody debris, including forestry slash, and sediment-related damage in Te Tairāwhiti, Tūranganui-a-Kiwa and Te Wairoa regions.
Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use – Ministry for the Environment
Flooding events in the North Island in 2023
Cyclone Gabrielle
Cyclone Gabrielle caused unprecedented flooding and damage across parts of the North Island in February 2023. A national state of emergency was declared to assist in the response.
Cyclone Gabrielle recovery: advice, support, and funding available
Other North Island floods
Cyclone Gabrielle follows heavy rain and flooding across the upper North Island in January 2023, which caused significant disruption to farmers, growers, and rural communities. Government is supporting clean-up, assessment, and recovery efforts.
A medium-scale adverse event was classified for:
- Gisborne and Wairarapa areas following Cyclone Hale on 11 January 2023
- Northland, Auckland, Waikato (including Coromandel), and Bay of Plenty following record rainfall in from 26 January on 2 February 2023.
Funding has been provided to coordinate clean-up efforts for the primary sector and rural communities in these regions.
2023 Cyclone Hale flood recovery [PDF, 1.9 MB]
2023 Auckland flood recovery [PDF, 1.4 MB]
Preparing for floods
A flood can have devastating effects on a farm business, affecting livestock, land, and buildings. The best way to minimise damage is to be prepared.
- Plan what to do with your pets, livestock and valuable equipment.
- Know where the closest high ground is and how to get there.
- Check your insurance policy.
Preparing for a flood – Beef + Lamb NZ fact sheets
During and after a flood
Safety first
Don't put yourself at risk from contaminated water, damaged roads, or landslides and other hazards.
Look for and report broken power lines to your electricity provider. Treat all lines as live.
Trees may be unstable due to saturated ground and high winds.
Be conscious of security. Lock your car and house. Report suspicious activity to police.
Health and wellbeing
Throw away food and water that has been contaminated by floodwater.
Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are certain it is not contaminated.
For disposal of hazardous waste, including farm chemicals, call EnviroWaste on 0800 00 06 11.
Your property
Report flooded homes and any need for temporary accommodation to your local council.
Assess damage to water supply and reticulation systems. Which stock water troughs are contaminated with silt and will need cleaning?
Assess damage to access lanes, tracks, gateways, culverts, and fences. What flood debris needs to be cleared?
Assess damage to pastures and the depth and type of silt.
Assess available non-flooded pastures and other unaffected feed reserves.
Accept help when offered, and ask for it if you need it.
Seawater flooding on farms
We've got information to help you if your farm gets flooded with seawater.
Update your NAIT records if you moved stock
If you had to move stock during flooding update your NAIT (National Animal Identification and Tracing scheme) records. Ensuring animal records are up-to-date is vital to ensure that NAIT can provide biosecurity and disease management support.
If you need help with your NAIT account or updating your records call 0800 48 24 63.
Log on to NAIT to record your animals’ movements
Financial assistance
Talk to your accountant, bank manager, or Work and Income. There are options for help.
Talk to Inland Revenue about tax relief.
If you and your family are affected by flooding, you may be able to get a Civil Defence payment.
The Rural Women NZ Adverse Events and Relief Fund may be able to help.
Insurance advice
Lodge your claim as soon as you can, even though you may not have all the information.
Take notes and photos of all damage.
Talk with your insurer during the call about temporary accommodation support, if needed.
Carry out emergency repairs, such as making buildings safe and weatherproof. Take photos of any damage you’re repairing to add to your insurance claim.
Call your insurer before carrying out non-essential repairs.
If you need to throw out some items, such as perished food, take photos first.
Emotional recovery
Take good care of yourself. Recovering from a flood is a big job. Learn how to recognise and care for anxiety, stress, and fatigue. Call your local Rural Support Trust if you are concerned about someone's stress levels or mental wellbeing.
