Natural Disasters
How Cyclone Gabrielle caught first responders flat-footed
Cyclone Gabrielle rescuers could not get hold of utes to get to flood zones in a mad scramble, documents show. Audio
Top Stories for Wednesday 18 October 2023
Hipkins to stay on as Labour leader; Labour's Andrew Little to leave politics; Biden to visit Israel as Gaza blockade continues; Report shows rescuers couldn't to get resources pre Gabrielle. Audio
Cyclone-hit growers hoping for fresh approaches from new MPs
With Hawke's Bay and the East Coast still knee-deep in the recovery from Gabrielle, there's pressure on the regions' new MPs to get it right. Audio
Auckland Council to confirm buyouts of flood damaged homes
'A kick in the guts' is how an Aucklander waiting for a buyout for her flood damaged home is describing the council taking back five percent as an administration fee.
Auckland Council will start to… Audio
Afghanistan hit by third earthquake in a week
The 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Herat province which has been hit by a series of recent tremors.
Iwi and Taranaki Regional Council seek help from nature for flooding
Ngaa Rauru is joining up with Taranaki Regional Council to search for "nature-based solutions" to flooding of the Waitōtara River catchment in the face of climate change.
Afghanistan hit by second earthquake in days
Another earthquake has hit western Afghanistan just days after two large quakes in the same region killed more than 1000 people.
Volunteers still travelling to Hawkes Bay for flood clean-up 8 months on
Volunteers are still travelling to Hawke's Bay from around the North Island to help with the cleanup, eight months on from Cyclone Gabrielle. Temporary housing requirements mean paid accommodation is… Audio
More than 1000 dead as Afghans dig for quake survivors
Rescuers are digging for survivors of a powerful earthquake that flattened whole villages in Afghanistan, killing more than 1,000 people.
Afghanistan earthquake: At least 120 killed and 1000 injured in 6.3 quake
Survivors described their terror as office buildings first shook - and then collapsed around them.
Watercare installs pipe to redirect wastewater from Parnell sinkhole
Watercare is set to begin work today on laying a bypass pipe to reduce wastewater overflow caused by a broken pipe in Auckland's Parnell last week, but meanwhile wastewater continues to flow into the… Audio
Muriwai residents fear buyouts on council valuations, not market
Flood and landslide-affected Aucklanders worry they could be forced out of their communities if the council proceeds with buyouts based on its valuations.
Tower cuts reinsurance costs following boost to EQC cap
The insurance company says its latest strategy will provide more certainty for consumers, as extreme weather events become more common.
Cyclone Gabrielle outages beyond Transpower's control - ComCom
Building a more resilient power grid is complex and may take a lot of time and money, Transpower says.
Fears over falling funding for wilding pine control
Last week's fires at Pukaki Downs and Lake Tekapo show the need to keep up the funding in the battle against wilding pines - at least according to one Mackenzie District farmer, who says wilding pines… Audio
Flood warning for Waipaoa river near Gisborne; ferries affected
Gisborne has issued a flood warning for the Waipaoa River near the settlement of Te Karaka.
Flood rescue teams pulled back due to dispute over pay
Floods keep rolling in, but the country's new flood rescue teams have not been there to meet them.
RNZ can reveal the teams pulled back in the face of incoming storms in May despite saving 32… Audio
Wairoa Airport runway extension gets boost from govt
The current runway at the town's airport was too short to land large planes during the Cyclone Gabrielle response.
Students lend a hand in Queenstown slip clean-up
Three Otago university students have travelled to Queenstown to help clear a property that was red-stickered after heavy rains.
Southland still on alert, despite rain easing
Rain may have eased, but Southland is still on alert with flooding in many parts and roads still closed. There is now a region-wide state of emergency.. There have been evacuations in Wallacetown, to… Video, Audio