Nelson and Marlborough 

Thoughts are with fellow kiwis in the Nelson Marlborough area after another weather event.

The area has been subject to flooding every four years in recent times.

This will get the climate alarmists excited because the go to explanation is climate change and they can say , look it's happening more often and go to their climate models to update and factor in four years as a given.

What will likely happen is the return period may expand to twenty years. Could be anything because that's what the weather does. Changes constantly. Weather patterns are down to nature.

Anyhow enough of that.

I really feel for those affected by the wet weather  and especially those growers who have lost machinery, buildings , fences soil etc.

It's a long grind getting back to some sort of normality.

Luckily the rain hit in the winter when crops are off the trees and everything is dormant. The soil will be saturated however as it has been wet for a while.  

More rain is forecast for Thursday and Friday so lets hope it is not going to exacerbate the situation  and cause more damage.

I have noted the normal noises from the Minister and the Mayors but I bet all the help will come from friends, family and local churches. Genuine kiwis.

Thinking of all those affected.

Ciao for now.

Lotto and Funding

Here I was talking about money and next thing there is coverage of the funds Lotto distributed following a special lotto draw following Gabrielle.

Early on there was disquiet about what was going on with the lotto funds but it is not an easy task deciding who would receive funds and how much.

I have to say I was extremely grateful to receive a small amount of assistance from Lotto distributed through a local organisation. I made it go a long way .

The distribution was in the vicinity of $14 million and when spread out over the affected areas was a big help to many small organisations that were then able to identify how best to utilise.

It would be good to discover why some particular parties were reputed to be given sums in the vicinity of $10m for very small communities .These were Government grants mentioned in discussions with many who assisted during the cleanup and restoration.

There are indications this was true as evidence is plain to see when travelling around .

This raise the question about help and assistance once again. 

In Australia the recent floods have seen affected people and businesses given grants around $20,000 and in the USA following North Carolina flooding the people were given $50,000 to help overcome the disaster.

In New Zealand nothing .

There is a multitude of situations that become apparent following a disaster . Everyone is different .Some insured , some not. Some with no debt. Some with debt to the eyeballs. Just a reflection of a community at a moment in time.

What is the answer?

My thinking now is that a grant of some kind , not just $1000 is required to soften the impact and help people get back on their feet.

The idea that we have a Council that is sitting on a $500 million investment at this time. One might say waiting for a rainy day,  and they are so miserable they look at ways of extracting more money from ratepayers , then I say something is very wrong.

We need to look at the legislation around possibly making a distribution from squirrelled funds that belong to the ratepayers.   

           

Money, Power, Authority

The shift has been quiet , like a stealth bomber under the radar but over time the power has shifted from the people to the authorities.

The masses don't notice as they go about their lives like ants building homes and having families having fun and filling the coffers of the big box boys and girls who sit on the hill smiling.

It's not until the proverbial hits the fan that some take time to stop and think. Take time and  read the room and say hang on a minute what the hell is going on.

Money.

It all revolves around money. Everything unless you opt out and find a retreat to practice yoga and vegetarianism.  Off grid power and chickens and composting toilets and all those fun pursuits.

A major event like a flood exposes where we have arrived with authority . The jack boot arrives promptly and marks abodes in a flash.

Verboten. Don't touch. Every house has a sticker. It's a sticker of stigma. Are you red , yellow or white?

The authorities have spoken. Who the hell makes these decisions?

It soon comes down to money. People themselves take care of the tragedy . People help people.

Losing everything  suddenly lands everyone on the same footing. Loss is the same for everyone but there are degrees.

So the problems start and individuals are faced with a multitude of problems sorting out how to progress.

Losing nearly everything to me was devastating but in a strange way formed a strong desire to recover.

Having been insured for 40 years and missing the one year you could have celebrated a win was hard to take .I had to face the situation and plough ahead. The givealittle page has been a big help as have a multitude of people.

Heros.

That was along way to get to money.

The community has been destroyed . Dismantled rather quickly and it's hard to find anyone responsible. No one knows. 

If we want answers and solutions it becomes a case of money. The authorities have plenty .We have none. The authorities have resources .Scarce for those of us left to fight.

And it is a fight.

My wish now is to establish a fund to produce a report that can prove some facts around the event, the destruction and solutions required to reestablish our community.

The one sided affair with Local Government making and forcing decisions is unacceptable. The power needs to be with the people. Those who  lived and breathed in the area and understood the natural state of being in a once thriving village.

I have some ideas. A million would be nice.

When I hear that $11 million was spent on a roundabout and extras not far from the floodzone it makes my brain explode.

 

 

Authorities get in the road.

 Rescue chopper

It's one of those components that one can put aside after the turmoil.

Up until now I had only thought of my rescue fleetingly and without stopping to cogitate.

I was prompted to think about it today while listening to a rural programme where a rescue team member was talking about rescue missions he had done.

The chopper that  came to me that grey day was a westpac chopper and he couldn't land on my roof so I had to be winched up.

It's certainly something you do in the heat of the moment. If you had time to stop and think  you would most likely freak out.

I recall when the chopper was right above me it looked bloody huge and it was so noisy.

I  didn't want to look up but had to.

The guy came down on the winch cable and calmly said how are goin?

He told me he would hook me on and said 'just relax'

Just relax. I will never forget that. But in fact I did just that.

I was winched up and turned a little on the way trying not to look down and holding on tight to my grab bag with some  valuables and toothbrush.

Getting in to the chopper was  the worst part. More like a clamber .Trying not to look down again . He yelled( noisy) get to the back and pointed to a seat.

We faced the wind and we were up and off.

I did it.

I had been in iriquois before but this was a different scene. It was all fear, anxiety, the will to survive, acting calm , the height of alertness all wrapped up in about 15 minutes of action.

The devastation below as we flew to safety was just unbelieveable.

I still want to track down the guys who saved me and thank them.

  

Immediate and Severe

Kapiti Coast ratepayers are at the forefront of  what is more like an experiment than an honest attempt at dealing with nature and its fluctuations.

Their District Council is in the club. That is the modelling club.

It's the way these days. Have computer will model.

However as Waikanae watch points out the real world consequences for ratepayers are immediate and severe.

Councils can spend all the money they like on modelling. It must be fun looking at a multitude of scenarios  knowing that ratepayers are a bottomless pit and flood mapping is a just a tool and what comes out in reports could be right or wrong .Never mind we can just do some more.

Trouble is the consequences do not seem to trouble politicians be they in Wellington , Waikanae or Hawkes Bay.

The flow on effect , the cumulative effect of modelling decisions passed down the line through insurance, rates, taxes snowballs in to a burden for ratepayers who are the suckers who have to cough.

What is annoying is that if these models are adopted and proven wrong over time what come back does the ratepayer have ?

There is no such thing as accountability when it comes to Local Government .Try saying 'told you so' in ten years time.

This whole shambles really is a consequence of the pursuit of a fantasy. Scenarios all produced in the name of climate change and the industry around it.

What concerns me is that the same situation is playing out throughout New Zealand and ratepayers are being extorted for no reason.

The current crop of politicians have been tricked in to believing in this fantasy and lack the ability to stand back and analyse the folly unfolding .

   

  

  

 

 Thoughts With Taree

Watching coverage of  flooding in Taree Australia brings it all back again.

When you have experienced a massive flood it sticks with you .Although diminished  in the mind ,it is still sitting there and witnessing a similar event affecting our couzzies across the Tasman brings back the pain and the mud and the dirty water .The scramble for safety and the confronting issues to deal with.

I understand exactly what they are going through and wish them all the best in the battle ahead.

What makes me mad is the response from media and the crazy climate nutters that try and make a connection with the great con that is prominent in the blame game.

What is needed is a calm considered response,  in depth understanding of historical events ,no knee jerk reactions and a rational approach to repair and restoration.

From what I am seeing it is not happening.

Politicians are already muttering about climate change .Insurance companies are salivating at elevating premiums along with repeating the lie about weather events becoming more frequent .

The Government has announced a payment of  $1000 per adult affected by the flood. That is amazing.I mean at this time it is like a pee in the flood water.

An economist from the Australian Institute interviewed  on TV mentions how so many residents were not insured or underinsured. People cannot afford the cover. 

This has been the situation in the US floods and the NZ floods and most likely Europe and the UK.

The system is in need of an overhaul.

Unfortunately the economist mentioned increasing events because of climate change .This is misinformation.

In fact after a flood it is more likely the area is going to be less likely to flood for years.

If Taree was a one in 500 year event then there is time to stop and cogitate on that.

It is a time to learn from the historical flooding events that have hit the Taree area and work out the best plan for the future.

It looks like hundreds of homes are going to be demolished .This will be devastating for so many.

Is it necessary? Is there another approach for the years ahead?

Are there flood control measure that can be implemented ?

I wish the affected people all the best. It's a hard road ahead and takes all ones strength to deal with a mountain of issues.

 

  

 

For The Sake of Doing Something

It is disturbing to note that millions is being spent on reinstating infrastructure that had been identified as ineffective and yet following the cyclone we have authority that appears to be saying they need to carry out the work to show the Government and Banks and Insurance companies that something is being done.

Can you believe that?

The experts have been told that repairing a stopbank should not proceed. Locals with years of experience and knowledge of past weather events  , the history of the stream involved along with on the ground understanding of the whole area and system , have been shunned and likely scoffed at behind closed doors.

This attitude about spending taxpayers money and ratepayers money to make it look like something is being done is wrong.

This is clearly a case of waste at a time government could do with saving or redirecting the expenditure into other remedies.

It is frustrating to note this interpretation coming from a number of people and reminds me of the huge expenditure carried out by the Hastings District Council in an over the top reaction to one well being poorly maintained .Millions of dollars wasted to show something was being done.

The proposed action on an ineffective stopbank is also having the effect on a number of landowners who may have their land acquired  and lives turned upside down for no reason whatsoever .

Once again the power of the state rules and in this instance underlines how  out of balance things have become.