Flood-hit factories and processing plants are vowing to rebuild after Cyclone Gabrielle left many extensively damaged. Several facilities across Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, the regions which bore the brunt of the cyclone’s impact, have either shut-up shop completely, or are working at reduced capacity. Sources: Stuff, Timberbiz
Pan Pac Forest Products, which operates a mill next to the Esk River at Whirinaki, north of Napier, could remain closed for weeks after the site was inundated by floodwaters.
A preliminary assessment of the site found a small amount of physical damage, but considerable damage to electrical and mechanical equipment from water and silt.
With more than 800 staff and contractors, Pan Pac is one of Hawke’s Bay’s largest employers, and has processed timber at the Whirinaki site since 1971. In a post on the company’s Facebook page, managing director Tony Clifford said while Cyclone Gabrielle was a major disaster, Pan Pac had “been here before with flooding.”
“We have very comprehensive insurance to cover plant damage and business continuity,” Mr Clifford said.
The site remained closed to all but a few who were doing essential checks before the rebuild could begin.
“But we will rebuild. We’ve been here 50 years, and we’re not going anywhere.”
Donations have been flowing into the TUMU Group Relief Fund as the extent of the damage to the horticultural and agricultural sectors in Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti becomes better understood around New Zealand
Donations to date have included NZ$50,000 in cash and NZ$100,000 in timber to be donated to community rebuild projects from Rotorua-based Red Stag Timber, and other sizeable donations from other corporate entities including Generate, Koppers Performance Chemicals NZ Ltd, and Stratco. Red Stag has also made a NZ$100,000 donation to the Hawke’s Bay Foundation, which has set up a relief fund to funnel donations to welfare agencies.
TUMU Group holding company director Brendan O’Sullivan said the group had mobilised quickly to get immediate support to isolated rural communities, drawing on the initial NZ$100k funding provided by the group itself. So far fuel, pet food and other supplies have been air dropped to Rissington, Patoka, Tutira and Whanawhana. More drops are planned in the coming days.
“We are only getting to better understand the extent of this event and it is bigger and more tragic than people realise,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
“Our isolated rural communities have been overwhelmed, some even moved to tears, by people’s generosity. We have to keep up the momentum to ensure they keep getting the support they need,” he said.
“With our relief fund, and that of the Hawke’s Bay Foundation, we have two very effective and efficient ways to distribute widely to our local communities and we are thankful for that. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has made a donation so far, as well as all the people on the ground pulling together to get the job done as quickly as possible.”
