Tasman - remediation still continues after Cyclone Gita 2018

 

Brooklyn Valley Flood Devastation 2018. Photo Credit Tasman District Council.

Cyclone Legacy Lingers Five Years On 

02 November 2023

The impact of the devastating Cyclone Gita which lashed the Tasman region in February 2018 is still being felt as final remediation from the havoc it created is undertaken. 

Rivers burst their banks and locals fled their homes as a deluge from Cyclone Gita caused flooding across the region. The Motueka Valley and Riwaka were particularly hard hit. 

Tākaka Hill endured the worst of the storm with tens of millions of dollars needed to rebuild state highway 60 – a project which took several years.  

 

During the storm hundreds of tonnes of debris was washed down the Motueka River including farm out- buildings, fencing, even vehicles and the shape of the waterway was changed. 

Tasman District Council’s Group Manager of Community Infrastructure Richard Kirby says at the time emergency measures were taken to haul debris out of the river and with the knowledge of landowners, it was buried on land to establish further temporary flood protection to properties along its banks. 

He says it has been a major undertaking, but we are now in the final phases of remediation work along the river, focusing on the Peach Island area.  

“During this work we are removing debris stockpiled during the event to enable river flow along its original course.” 

Richard Kirby says the council knows some vehicles washed down the river during the event were buried in these piles on the farmland during the emergency once it was established they posed no immediate threat to the environment. The landowners were also aware of this. 

“The latest work is unearthing them as planned for permanent disposal elsewhere.”  

He says the recovery earthwork to ensure a higher level of protection for those in the Peach Island area of the Motueka River is expected to be finished within the next week with planting and further stabilisation work to be done after that.

Tasman District Council Communications.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

Fonterra Communications - news release

 

Fonterra and Nestlé complete sale of DPA Brazil

Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd can today confirm that the sale of Fonterra and Nestlé’s Dairy Partners Americas (DPA) Brazil joint venture* (JV) to French dairy company Lactalis is complete.

Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell says when the Co-op announced the sale in December 2022, it noted the sale was subject to regulatory approvals. These approvals have now been received.

“With our decision to focus on our New Zealand milk pool, the sale of DPA Brazil means we can prioritise our resources to the businesses that are core to our strategy,” says Mr Hurrell. 

Fonterra and Nestlé sold the JV for BRL 700 million, which is approximately NZD 240 million at current exchange rates. These proceeds offset debt related to that business, which means there will be little cash impact on Fonterra’s earnings.

There is a negative foreign currency translation reserve (FCTR) balance of approximately $70 million related to Fonterra’s ownership of the DPA Brazil asset, which will be reflected as a non-cash accounting reclassification in Fonterra’s profit and loss statement.

Final transaction proceeds remain subject to customary post-completion adjustments.

As with previous one-off transactions, Fonterra’s FY24 announced forecast earnings range of 45-60 cents per share will continue to reflect only the underlying performance of the business.

*The Dairy Partners Americas (DPA) Brazil joint venture was owned 51% by Fonterra and 49% by Nestlé.

Fonterra.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

"Kiwi Farmers Torn Over M. Bovis Eradication Efforts: To Stamp It Out or Let It Be?"

Ospri will manage day-to-day aspects of the planned eradication of the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis  from November 2023.

"Is M. Bovis Eradication Worth the Hoo-Ha, Mate?"

The gumboots and jandals are stompin' as the M. Bovis cattle disease crusade heads into a fresh surveillance scene, but down in Southland, a dairy farmer's still givin' it a bit of the ol' side-eye, wonderin' if it's been a proper bang for the buck, bro.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has chucked out the word that the mission to give that cattle disease the old heave-ho from our national herd will be run by Ospri (Operational Solutions for Primary Industries), a good-natured, not-for-profit outfit, startin' from November. The ministry's joinin' forces with Beef and Lamb New Zealand and DairyNZ to keep tabs on the whole shebang.

Now, Kelvan Smith, who's the head honcho of the M. Bovis governance group, says Ospri's got a job to test farms, keep an eye on a place in Canterbury that's already been hit, and any new farms that get the bug, and also take care of the scrub-a-dub and support for farmers. Smith reckons, "MPI's still gonna do the boring stuff like compensation and slappin' wrists when needed. So, you won't notice much difference, bro." No extra chingas for M. Bovis either.

The government's deal with Beef and Lamb NZ and DairyNZ will be on the books until the National Pest Management Plan gets the green light and sets up shop. Submissions for that plan just closed shop, and they'll give the government the final lowdown in early 2024, so it can be up and running by mid-2024.

Since this whole M. Bovis saga started back in 2018, the number of infected farms has dropped to almost zilch, according to Smith. A total of 280 farms have been given the all-clear, 70 up north, and 210 down south, with over 3.3 million tests thrown in for good measure. As of October 26, only one farm had the bug left, and once that's sorted, they'll keep an eagle eye on things for about 2½ years before going to the bigwigs to prove we've kicked it to the curb.

But hold your horses, cuz Southland dairy farmer Jason Herrick's got his own take on the whole shebang. He's reckonin' that New Zealand should just learn to live with this pesky bacterial disease, like we've been doin' with bovine tuberculosis, leptospirosis, and bovine viral diarrhea. "Kiwis are pretty good at rollin' with the punches, and M. Bovis ain't no different, bro."

Herrick's on about the real cost here, not just the cold hard cash but the heartache and headaches of losin' whole herds due to a couple of infections. He's not sold on the idea that we can ever truly kick this disease to the curb and outta Aotearoa.

Our M. Bovis eradication scheme is the first of its kind worldwide, with a whopping price tag of $870 million. Stuart Anderson, the ex-boss of the M. Bovis show, reckoned that lettin' that virus run wild would've cost us way more, a whopping $1.3 billion in lost productivity within the first decade.

 

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

Monthly Outlook For Weather - November 2023

November 2 - Todays weather over Richmond

 

MetService weather monthly outlook

November 2023 Outlook – An Assortment of Weather Systems, but Dry Emphasis 

November starts off with the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Lola quickly moving away to the east, although another Tasman Sea low is likely to bring rainfall back onto the country later this week. This rain should particularly favour northern and western parts of the North Island, although some places like Southland and inland Otago could also see brief, but useful bursts for a time as well.

Once this low clears away, a longer period of drier and more settled weather is expected country-wide, as a large high builds over New Zealand from the Tasman Sea. Isolated showers could occur under this high, but overall rainfall should be limited for most places.

Around mid-month, we may see westerlies returning, resembling October’s predominantly westerly pattern. Fronts might move up the South Island but are likely to weaken quickly as they encounter the high over the North Island. Some of these fronts should bring slightly wetter than normal conditions to the west of the South Island, with the south seeing more uncertainty, coinciding with the return of bursts of gusty westerly winds for many places.

Temperatures are forecast run warmer than average through much of the month, although a cooler period might be seen during the start to mid-month under more settled skies. 

November presents a mix of slow-moving lows, followed by an extended dry and settled period, which gives way to unsettled westerlies in the south. Overall, forecasts hint at slightly drier than normal for most places, but these conditions might occur at different times of the month depending on the location.

Map showing forecast rainfall for November 2023, relative to the November normal.

MetService Communications

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

Land Purchase for long awaited Swimming Pool and Recreation facilities - MOTUEKA

 

Motueka's seaside pool

Land Purchase Progresses Motueka Pool Potential

Tasman District Council's recent purchase of land on King Edward Street is being welcomed as a long-term investment to benefit the Motueka community meeting the expected demand for recreational space and facilities.

In conjunction with property owner Kerry Krammer, we have come to a mutual agreement to allow our purchase of land encompassing 99, 111b and 113b King Edward Street.

A potential use of some of the land is the development of a swimming pool and recreational facilities.

Both parties acknowledge the land purchase is a significant step forward in a long-held desire to provide a community pool for Motueka, a concept that has been keenly advocated by local residents for more than 25 years.

Enabling something that will be of significant long-term value to the wider community was seen as important to Kerry Krammer in offering the land to the Council.

Further progress on the site’s future – including design, timeline and costs of development – will be subject to Tasman’s 10-Year Plan discussions and consultation with locals.

The Council deliberately moved away from areas in eastern Motueka that have been identified by Ministry for the Environment as being exposed to greater risk with sea level rise.

The purchased sites will be tenanted up to the point of any development taking place, therefore generating income in the interim.

Council has been in touch with the current tenants and a number of stakeholders to inform them of the purchase and anticipated plans.

This purchase was aided by the Motueka Community Board which approved funding through the Motueka Reserves Financial Contributions.

 

The Council will keep the community informed of any further developments in due course.

Tasman Communications.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

What’s On - Richmond

RICHMOND YOUR CHANCE TO LEARN TO DANCE

It’s on, it’s special, I had to let you know. The lovely Tango community awaits you with lovely dancing and Tango festivals await you.

In Richmond this evening - your last chance to learn the beautiful dance of Argentino Tango - start tonight or start up the classes next week and catch up.

Grab a dance partner and come and join us for a 7 week course in Richmond then tango your way into 2024 with style!

Contact Anne-Maree directly on annemaree@tangolibre.com to register your interest.

No experience needed just contact: annemaree@tangolibre.com

Held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Hall, 35 William Street, Richmond.

Time 6.30pm to 8pm this evening.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

DOC and Air New Zealand partnership for conservation

Photo credit DOC.

Air New Zealand and DOC partnership renewed and expanded

Date:  26 October 2023

DOC and Air New Zealand have renewed their partnership to work together for conservation, today announcing a further five-year commitment and a doubling of direct investment annually.

Building on more than a decade of collaboration, the renewal will see Air New Zealand directly invest more than $5 million in DOC biodiversity programmes over the next five years.

The funding will continue the airline’s support for sustained pest control and species monitoring across five of New Zealand’s Great Walks, and the increased contribution will welcome DOC’s nationwide Conservation Dogs Programme to the partnership.

DOC Director-General Penny Nelson says that the enduring partnership with New Zealand’s national carrier demonstrates the value of nature in Aotearoa.

“The environment is fundamental to tourism. When people experience nature that is wild, healthy and unique, it has a positive impact on them. Our environment is a major drawcard for international visitors and New Zealanders alike.

“Sadly however, we have more than 4000 species threatened or at risk of extinction. This partnership with Air New Zealand means we can do more for native species than we could do alone.

“On the Milford track for example, our partnership has helped control predators to the point where we could bolster the population of pāteke/brown teal. Air New Zealand flew in 60 pāteke, plus funded radio transmitters to monitor their success. 

“When a tramper hikes along the track, they now have the chance to spot pāteke as well as many other birds, reptiles and insects thriving thanks to our partnership.

“This is the sort of impact we can make with long-term partnerships with business, so it’s great to be furthering our work alongside Air New Zealand.”

In addition to the direct investment, Air New Zealand will also provide more than $5 million of in-kind support. This support includes continuing to fly conservation dogs and threatened species, as well as through initiatives to raise awareness of the biodiversity crisis and ways that both New Zealanders and international visitors can support conservation efforts in Aotearoa.

Air New Zealand Chief Sustainability Officer Kiri Hannifin says the airline is delighted to expand its long-running partnership with DOC to include the world-leading Conservation Dogs Programme.

“New Zealand’s unique and precious biodiversity is under constant threat. Continuing to implement a range of science-based initiatives to respond to this threat is vital.

“Our increased investment will support the DOC Conservation Dogs Programme to mentor, certify and support dog-handler teams to detect New Zealand’s protected species or unwanted pests.

“These highly trained dogs and their handlers are at the forefront of the fight against biodiversity loss in Aotearoa.”

Since the partnership began in 2012, it has achieved more than 42,000ha of sustained pest control alongside some of the most iconic Great Walks, flown more than 4,300 threatened species and conservation dogs, and enabled over 30 million engagements with people through joint storytelling.

DOC.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond