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Gisborne businesses begin to reopen – but with water restrictions
Businesses in Gisborne have been given clarity on which can open under the current post-Cyclone Gabrielle water restrictions, and what rules they must follow.
Many have begun to open up, as cellular and data connectivity returned to the region but strict water restrictions remained in place.
The pipe network to and from the Waingake plant was broken in multiple places, and the council warned the smaller Waipaoa plant would struggle to keep up with demand, and would be prone to failure because of silt in the water.
The council said earlier this week it had spoken to large water users like fruit and vegetable growers, major food producers and car washers, who were told they could not use the mains water supply.
A large pipe at the Waingake water plant was broken during Cyclone Gabrielle, crippling Gisborne’s water supply. Photo: RNZ/ Kate Green
It asked people to only use water for drinking, short showers and food preparation.
Civil Defence controller Ben Green on Sunday said residents would need to keep restricting their use of water for at least another two days.
Tairāwhiti Civil Defence controller Ben Green Photo: Māni Dunlop/RNZ
Essential businesses like rest homes, hospitals, laundromats, cafes, and hotels could open.
However, they needed to have water reduction strategies in place, and to be able to explain them when asked by council staff.
Moderate water users like bars, dine-in restaurants, hairdressers and dog washers could not operate using the mains water supply.
For example hairdressers could do haircuts, but not wash hair.
If the water crisis worsened, laundromats and food business would be asked to shut, unless they could operate without using water, Green said.
Alerts from the National Emergency Management Agency (19 February)
- Keep up to date with advice from your local CDEM Group or from civildefence.govt.nz
- Floodwaters may be full of sewage, chemicals and other hazardous materials and should be avoided as much as possible
- Floodwater can carry bacteria that can contaminate food
- Protect yourself when cleaning up flood water and mud by wearing a properly fitted P2- or N95-rated mask, goggles, gloves, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and gumboots or work shoes
- Throw away all food and drinking water that has come in contact with floodwater
- Do not eat garden produce if the soil has been flooded
- In power outages use torches instead of candles, and only use camp cookers and BBQs outdoors.
- Conserve water where you are advised to
- Check the location of pipes and cables before you dig; see Chorus’ Before You Dig website and beforeudig.co.nz for all utilities
- The best way to assist in the response is through financial donations and NOT through donated goods.
SOURCE RNZ
The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.
On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.
Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.
In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.
“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.
“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”
VNP / Phil Smith
Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.
That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.
“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.
Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.
Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.
The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.
Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.
Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.
“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”
Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.
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