Cyclone Gabrielle

[nzoomed]

I can remember working on the Moutoa sluice gates in 1960-61 on the lower Manawatu river. This was designed to control the potential for flooding. Wilkins and Davies were very strict about the quality of the workmanship unlike many firms today. And the Ministry of Works monitored the building standards.
Before that farms used to flood regularly between Shannon and Foxton and there were scenes like today.
Regrettably the development of these mitigation schemes around the country ceased.

I imagine its going to be a good shakeup thats needed and more funds get directed to flood mitigation such as stopbanks.
Sadly its too late for these affected areas, but any floodplains could benefit from them and would pay off on any future weather events.

I still cant believe how we got away with it here in Tauranga, we didnt get anywhere near as much rain as we did the other week, but the wind was rather high.
Its a phenomenal amount of rain to fall in a short space of time like what happened on the east coast.