The Hawke’s Bay Independent Flood Review - Pae Matawai Parawhenua has been commissioned by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) to investigate the circumstances and contributing factors that led to the flooding in the Hawke’s Bay region during Cyclone Gabrielle.

The Review is independent and impartial. It is looking at Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s flood management schemes and programmes from Wairoa to Pōrangahau, and how each performed and the decisions made by HBRC during the cyclone. The Review will also consider and recommend options to increase the region’s long term flood resilience.

The review is expected to be completed by the end of June 2024.

The Terms of Reference for the Review can be viewed here.

A panel of three people with expertise in resource management, engineering and the law, are conducting the Review. They are Dr Phil Mitchell (Chair), Bernadette Arapere and Kyle Christensen. More details here.

The report of the Review findings and recommendations is expected to be presented to HBRC by the end of June 2024.

The Review is not investigating district or city council roles and responsibilities during Cyclone Gabrielle, local civil defence emergency management responses, or the recovery phase of the flooding. You can find information on the Review of Civil Defence here.

This web page was updated 12 April 2024 to include Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s responses to the questions asked by the Panel following their review of the information provided by the Council, the community and mana whenua.