The first few days...

February 14, 2023, is a date etched in Hawke’s Bay’s history as one of the region’s darkest days, as Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread damage, flooding and extreme isolation for Napier.

On Monday 13 February, the Napier Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was stood up. In the early hours of Tuesday, a State of Emergency was declared for Napier. Regional and national declarations followed soon after.

Over 70,000 Napier residents were isolated without power, water, communications, health services and road connectivity. The Napier Wastewater Treatment Plant in Awatoto and associated industrial area were completely inundated as the stop banks of the Tūtaekurī River were breached. Some residential and commercial areas, along with surrounding rural communities and productive land, were destroyed.

The areas surrounding the Napier urban area, including Puketapu, Meeanee, Brookfields, Awatoto, Pākōwhai, Whirinaki, Esk Valley and Tangoio communities, along with productive horticultural land, were decimated. There was also flooding in Taradale, Bayview and Te Awa.

It took at least four days before power started to be restored, although some Napier residents went without power for up to 11 days. This meant that services and businesses without access to generators and fuel were unable to support the community. Only one supermarket was able to open two days after the cyclone, which quickly led to long queues, panic buying, and empty shelves. A lack of operational ATMs led to difficulties obtaining cash and a fear that fuel supplies may run out, led to long queues and rationing at those service stations able to operate.

For several displaced residents, shelter was provided at Kennedy Park Resort, Centennial Event Centre, St Joseph’s Māori Girls College, Tamatea Intermediate, Pukemokimoki Marae, Bayview Hotel Pub, Equippers Church and Napier Central School. Community groups provided other support, such as food parcels, toiletries and wellbeing support.