Fire chief Neville King with Chris Hipkins
Labour leader Chris Hipkins was in Ōtorohanga this week in the wake of one storm – to check how the community had responded to another one.
And he said that as climate change takes hold, the country is vulnerable to a cyclone season and must prepare infrastructure accordingly.
Where towns had one bridge in and out, questions had to be asked about how to build resilience.
On February 13 Ōtorohanga was hit by more than 150mm of rain in 12 hours – resulting in considerable flooding at Ōtorohanga Primary school.
The Mangati Bridge between Pirongia and Ōtorohanga was taken out by the storm and a temporary bridge subsequently installed.
Hipkins said he was in town to touch base, see what the needs were and advocate.
Photos of flooding did not tell the full story, he said – the repair work at the school required a big undertaking and it was important to note because some small communities felt forgotten in the aftermath of storm damage.
Hipkins’ programme also included a meeting with firefighters, police, Māori wardens and mayor Rodney Dow.
Fire chief Neville King with Chris Hipkins
