South Wairarapa District Council has established the South Wairarapa Recovery Office to lead the district’s recovery from the severe weather event of 15 and 16 February. The storm caused significant disruption across the Wairarapa region, with severe impacts in South Wairarapa which caused rivers to burst their banks, inundating roads, and left communities from Pirinoa to Lake Ferry and Cape Palliser completely cut off.

The Recovery Office, established on Monday 23 February, ensures there is now a dedicated team to coordinate and facilitate a range of recovery activities in partnership with district council teams, iwi, government departments, rural sector and support service agencies that will support safe access restoration, infrastructure stabilisation, and community wellbeing as the district moves out of the immediate emergency response.

Under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act, a Local Transition Period provides powers to support and coordinate recovery activities and has a maximum duration of 28 days, with the ability to extend for further 28‑day periods if required.

South Wairarapa Mayor Fran Wilde acknowledges the strength and cooperation shown by residents throughout the event. “This transition provides options such as the ability to negotiate a range of government funding for putting things right.

This is not just about essential lifelines such as bridges and roads but also a variety of outreaches we want in our remote communities to help them back to normality, as well as assistance for individuals who have been severely impacted.”

The Recovery Office will operate under Local Recovery Manager Nigel Carter and will provide structured oversight of the recovery programme.

Mr Carter says the effort will be shaped locally, in partnership with the communities most affected. “Recovery is not only about immediate repairs but about understanding what our communities need both now and in the medium-long term, and supporting them to build resilience in their homes, businesses and rural operations.”

“Moving into the formal recovery phase also opens up access to funding and support designed specifically for post‑emergency rebuilding and long‑term resilience.”

ENDS

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