rehette stoltz

Homes are still covered in silt and roads are far from repaired six months on from Cyclone Gabrielle.

The devastating weather event left Gisborne without power and communication for days, and took the lives of 11 people nationwide.

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz told Kate Hawkesby that resilience is as important as recovery, which could cost billions.

She says we can't just keep on patching up these areas, as more storms expected in the coming years.

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Gisborne's Mayor says the region is shattered after constant extreme weather events.

Welfare centres have been opened as the region remains in a State of Local Emergency, with a Red Heavy Rain Warning in place until midday Sunday.

An Orange Heavy Rain Warning is in place for much of Hawke's Bay.

State Highway 35 from Gisborne to Ruatoria is now closed overnight, while State Highway 2 is closed between Matawai and Whatatutu Road.

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the worst could be yet to come.

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