After the loss of eight lives during Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawke’s Bay chose to act early ahead of Cyclone Vaianu – showing why decisive, coordinated leadership matters most in an emergency.
Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā!
Be alert, be vigilant!
Kia hiwa rā ki tēnei tuku,
Be on high alert at this position,
Kia hiwa rā ki tēnā tuku,
Be vigilant at your post,
Kia tū, kia oho, kia mataara!
Be attentive, be aware, be watchful!
After what Gabrielle left behind, many whānau listened closely as Cyclone Vaianu tracked toward our coast. The call was simple: be alert, be prepared, and look after each other – because the strongest response is the one we do together.
Thankfully, this subtropical weather system did not hit Te Matau a Māui with anything like the force of Cyclone Gabrielle three years ago. Even so, Gabrielle’s damage still sits close for many whānau across Hawke’s Bay – and so does the uncertainty it left behind. It’s understandable that, as Vaianu approached, some people felt anxious and on edge.
With Gabrielle still fresh for many whānau, Hawke’s Bay declared a state of emergency almost 24 hours before Cyclone Vaianu was forecast to arrive. In my view, it was absolutely the right call.
Some have criticised it as over-cautious, and the Mayor of Wairoa has been vocal in opposing declarations of this kind. But those critiques overlook a hard truth: during Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawke’s Bay lost eight people. We cannot afford to gamble with lives.
That early declaration by the Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group meant everyone could move quickly into a coordinated approach through CIMS (the Coordinated Incident Management System). Under CIMS, Civil Defence was the lead agency, backed by councils, Police, lifeline utilities, health services, and community organisations. Social service providers like Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga also activated our own CIMS arrangements, so we could plug in, share information, and deliver support where it was needed most.
CIMS isn’t just a command-and-control chart. It links local leadership with the wider network, so decisions match what people actually need. When power is cut, roads close, and homes are at risk, the basics matter: kai, a trusted place of refuge, clear updates, and practical help for whānau.
CIMS is also clear that iwi and Māori have a vital role in emergencies and recovery. It reflects what we see on the ground: Māori networks mobilise fast, marae are community anchors, and kaupapa Māori providers can assess need and wrap services around whānau with cultural safety. When things are stretched, that capability strengthens the whole effort – alongside Civil Defence, councils, Police, and other agencies.
Here in Heretaunga, that framework is only as good as what it enables on the ground.
Heretaunga Ringahora is a well-known local saying – often understood as ‘Heretaunga of open hands’. It speaks to generosity and hospitality, and to a commitment to make sure support is there for anyone who needs it.
In the lead-up to Vaianu – and through it – our marae and Māori social service agencies checked in on people and made sure nobody was left to face it alone. Pukemokimoki and Matahiwi marae opened their doors with kai and an overnight place of refuge, welcoming anyone in need. Ōmahu marae was on standby to do the same. Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga carried out welfare checks, making sure our kaumātua and whānau with high needs had what they needed.
This isn’t about replacing Civil Defence or any agency’s role. It’s about strengthening what we do together. Māori providers and marae can extend support by sharing updates in plain language, feeding real-time needs back into coordination, and mobilising volunteers and resources quickly. If we want the next event to go even better, that contribution should be planned for, resourced, and connected in – before any emergency hits.
Cyclone Vaianu reminded us that resilience isn’t a slogan – it’s relationships. When the next warning comes, let’s meet it with kotahitanga: Civil Defence and councils, lifeline utilities and health services, marae, Māori providers, neighbours and whānau – connected as one. Let’s plan together, share information early, and back the people and places providing manaakitanga—before the storm hits, not after.
Our collective effort during Cyclone Vaianu reflects the strategic vision of Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, captured in the proverb Te Haaro o te Kaahu ki Tuawhakarere – the far-seeing gaze of the harrier hawk as it soars high over the Heretaunga plains. It speaks to perspective and foresight, and to the responsibility to look beyond the immediate horizon, so our communities can flourish in good times and endure the hard ones.
Glossary:
Te Matau a Māui – Hawke’s Bay
Kaumātua – elderly
Manaakitanga – hospitality, generosity, care.
Kotahitanga – unity of purpose.
