Climate Capture and Cost

I was talking to a friend about the weather cycle we are currently experiencing  . 

The perspective of weather and its connection with climate is something missing in many discussions about weather events . 

The man in the street is bombarded with  never ending reports that mention climate change in a mantra that has had a devastating effect on decision making to the extent that capitulation and pick pocketing of every ratepayer , in the name of emissions , has rendered the population comatose in response.

Perspective is lost because of this media manipulation .The population is convinced the taxes they increasingly cough up for 'climate change' are necessary to stem the tide in a Canute like act .

In Parliament today questions and discussions relating to recent weather events revolved around emissions and climate change.

There were suggestions that the Government can magically stop these weather events if only they built more solar farms and windfarms.

Building these environmentally damaging power generation areas because they may produce less carbon emissions than burning coal is going to cost the tax payer and the ratepayer massive amounts of money .

New Zealand should be learning from overseas experience that it is folly to pursue this path.

It is so hard to sit and watch MPs smugly comfortable in their leather chairs , nodding in tune to the emissions beat.

As we listen to 'state of emergency ' calls in many regions following the path of the rogue weather system there  are many questions to be asked about long standing infrastructure that has failed or may have  been inadequate ..

I fear ratepayers are going to be fleeced to a higher level as the climate change taxes expand and the true cost of protection is distorted in the extortion.

It is truly a challenging time to be a resident and a taxpayer as this weather cycle occurs. 

  

  

   

Third Anniversary

How the years tick by.

Three years on and the North Island is being toyed with again by a tormenting depression .This one is hard to follow as it is tracking slightly different to normal easterly lows and it is bouncing around and reforming.

It's the pattern we are in and nature will tease and challenge us with this pattern for a  while yet.

This morning it was a pleasure to meet with many of the church members who helped in my rebuild and reinstatement .Saved by these wonderful people and the wonderful crew they put together to tackle any task.

I finally met with some other local residents that had been forced out of their homes by the category fiasco .I didn't have time to delve in to the details but at least have made contact and can follow up .

One person had gone as far as starting to rebuild and was well down the path when told to stop and that was it. 

The brutality of the decision making has had a major effect on flooded residents who could see a way through. A way to mitigate and enhance. Rebuild and allow for any future  possibilities because you learn from the experience .

Three years down the track allows for a better perspective . The initial panic over a repeat flood that drenched modellers minds has faded but the fear remains in the bureaucracy .

Three years down the track and money is being wasted on infrastructure because of the fear .Three years down the track and there are river works that need to be attended to but nothing has eventuated.

It is hard to see $50 million aimed at works that could well be unnecessary while more strategic works are left in limbo.

The rain is steady again so will relax and reflect on a day etched in to my mind forever.        

 

Outrageous Response

Where would the media be without a good disaster?

It is hard to keep up with the continuing coverage of the latest weather event but one item in particular had me shaking my head.

A report on Radio NZ covered comments from 'experts' (what is an expert) and the fearmongering was extreme and beyond belief.

A Professor Bronwyn Hayward from Canterbury University was quoted as saying the following.

"children that have been born in 2020 and since will face over four times the number of extreme events in their lifetimes than any of us who were 55 in 2020 will ever experience in our remaining lives"

That is an outrageous claim and has no factual base. There is no way a prediction can be made about future events because there are too many factors to consider and it is likely this claim is based on the climate change scam that has infected our institutions. It is also irresponsible to make such a claim knowing that such claims could scare people unnecessarily .  

In the future the weather patterns could change completely and NZ could experience continuing droughts or cold periods or warm periods. Nature has a mind of its own and will do what it has done for thousands of years.  

Coulds and mights. Even modelling will not predict the precise future or regularity of  weather events.

Councils around the country are familiar with their geographical features , the rivers and the infrastructure that has been created to protect ratepayers and there is a familiarity with flooding going back years.

The reactions appearing now revolve around the myth of climate change and we are heading down the wrong path if this is what dictates responses.

     

  

 Bay of Plenty Event

Sometimes it's best to sit back and observe.

The latest rain event hung around for a few days and along with the gusty easterly , knocked some fruit off the trees and caused frustration in the middle of the plum harvest.

All the time I was tracking the cloud mass as it sat over a huge area and continued to rain down on the Bay of  Plenty and Gisborne .

Once upon a time it was Gizzy that was the place to go in summer. Surfing , sand , sun and fun.

We are going through a period where weather patterns have changed and summers can be punctuated with these cursed easterlies that spoil everything.

That brings me to the sit back and observe note.

The reaction in the media following the rain event has been nuts.

There are too many knee jerk commentaries that leap to the anthropomorphic  climate change conclusion.

Newspapers and online media stories preaching doom and gloom if we don't stop driving cars or burning coal.

No perspective. No experience. No attempt to research and understand the weather.

The other coverage that has become over the top is the blame game being played.

Cooler heads are needed.

It's a bloody disaster that's for real. We need time to digest what has happened and better understand the hows and why of the event.

One thing of concern is that Councils and Government agencies are going to go down the same track as Gabrielle.

It's following that pattern already as though we have learned nothing in the last three years.

 

          

Triggered.

Easterlies trigger me.

In younger days it meant sports was off. Rugby was off . Whining about nothing to do was on.

Then came Bola. That was a good easterly that felled trees and gave rise to massive erosion on the East Coast.

Then we had Gabrielle almost three years ago now.

I have likely missed any number of easterlies in between that swirled around for three days ( nearly always three days) and caused rivers to rise, minor flooding and more cancelled sports events.

The last few days have welcomed another easterly that whacked Northern New Zealand and has hung around like a bad friend and continued to slam in to eastern districts with considerable negative impact.

I don't know whether the multi option weather sites are a good or bad thing .I follow one in particular where I can interpret satellite images that suit my understanding of the weather gods and draw conclusions as to how bad the impact will be. How much will I lose .How long will the grass grow. Are farmers happy  or have growers taken another big hit.

It's the timing that's important. The time of the year. If we experience an Easterly in winter it's not too inconvenient. Unless it is like Bola.

What makes life difficult is producing a wonderful crop , nurturing through spring , watching it grow and grow and getting excited about harvesting and then , whamo a depression forms up North and creeps down the island , slips inland and wipes the smile off your face.

The last two days have seen the hard work of so many growers smacked again at the most inconvenient time.

Why are we getting these events at this time of the year?  The weather cycles come and go but the last few years have been extremely trying for producers who can't turn trees off and on. Rain in the summer is our enemy. Give me a drought and I'll give you some great stonefruit.

I was triggered last night .The rain started to persist and I had to make a rational judgement using noise.

Gabrielle was 4 times as loud on the roof so I figured this would work out OK especially as the drains and the rivers were all clear (I hope) and the land was not as soaked as 2023.

Today the misty rain is toying with me. The ground is pretty wet but soon I will inspect the losses ,close my eyes and carry on.  

       

1 in 1000

The aftermath of Gabrielle rolls on.

Years ago Tangoio was a little place one passed heading out of Napier on the way to Gizzy. Blink and you miss it.

There was a time when the infesting Chilean Needle Grass was sprouting up on the hillsides and was a major problem to control.

Pakuratahi Valley was hardly noticeable and the flats in the valley had spuds and corn  struggling away in the salty ,silty flats near the sea.

Wonder why crops never looked the best when they were in this trying  ground ?

Nevertheless  the flats produced crops for years and helped sustain someone through another growing season.

These flats always look enticing to some. A subdivision would go well here and make a handsome profit for a developer.

What could go wrong? Life close to the sea and not far to commute to town .

Gabrielle. That's what can go wrong.

Luckily the subdivision had only just started .If there had been a full compliment of new residents it could have been a disaster.

As it was many felt the impact of the flooding and the ongoing pain of dealing with the consequences.

In a recent court case , it is intriguing that the developer of the subdivision has suggested that the subdivision consent should never have been approved. A bit strange  .

I would not like to comment on the case as I have not followed it but the Judge mentioned that Gabrielle was a 1 in 1000 year event.

That was the first definitive statement I have heard relating to the return value of the cyclone.

That is massive.

Time to contemplate the ramifications of that statement.  

  

   

      

 

 2025 Heroes and Villains 

Once upon a time the New Year Honours  were special and restricted to genuine recipients that had excelled in a host of Community endeavors.

These days political influence has diminished the meaning and importance of a gong or splash of letters although there are some deserved , dedicated souls to be found amongst  the expanded list. 

I couldn't help but shuffle through the long list that resides in my mind. The list of people that emerged at a time of need and helped so many families , so many residents who were on their back feet after Gabrielle.

These silent heroes went about the task of helping and supporting without hesitation. Where does one start to  recognise the amazing effort that went in over such a long period of time.

I could hand out medals to all of them.

These were not people that  had piles of  money , piles of influence , big companies or a 'name'.

 These were people who sprang in  to action at a time of need. No hesitation.  They lent a shoulder , a dollar, muscle , time and equipment.

They are all heroes to me and I give them all an award for the massive effort they put in to make so many lives better at such a difficult time.

The villains were the big entities .Some of the Councils and staff. Many corporates lacked empathy and had a couldn't care less attitude .

2025 and much further down the track.

Happy New Year to my heroes and gongs to you all.