Northland tsunami alert: How the region s response went and what can be done better
12 Mar, 2021 05:00 PM
8 minutes to read
An aerial shot shows the surge from last Friday s tsunami alert going into Tutukaka. Photo / Supplied
An aerial shot shows the surge from last Friday s tsunami alert going into Tutukaka. Photo / Supplied
Susan Botting is the Local Democracy Reporter for Northlandsusan.botting@northernadvocate.co.nz
Just over a week on from last Friday s tsunami evacuation alert for Northland, Susan Botting took a comprehensive look at how we handled it and what we can do better.
Northland s regional tsunami evacuation on March 5 was the biggest in New Zealand with tens of thousands shifting to higher ground along 3200 kilometres of coastline.
Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai says problems with people being able to exit the gridlocked city centre during this morning s tsunami evacuation will be looked into.
Tsunami evacuation traffic congestion at Whangarei s Bank St/Dent St intersection today.
Photo: Northern Advocate / Mike Dinsdale We will be reviewing egress from the city, Mai said.
She said people trying to find their way out of the city centre to higher ground would have felt anxiety as they faced clogged roads and congestion, and addressing the situation was important. Imagine the anxiety people would feel if a big tsunami came through and they were still in the queue to get out [of town], Mai said.
About 500 people evacuated to Whangārei Primary School today, among them were about 100 Whangārei District Council staff and central city workers.
Whangārei Primary School.
Photo: Google Maps
WDC staff evacuated about 9am, going up to their designated Whangārei Primary School evacuation point from about 9.20am and checking at the school gates with the Covid tracer app.
About 500 people had converged on the evacuation site, many had been able to go from there to family or friends during the four hours of the evacuation period.
Rob Forlong, Whangārei District Council (WDC) chief executive, said the four hours at the evacuation site had gone well.
Northland tsunami alert: Region copes well in tsunami threat but more could be done
5 Mar, 2021 06:36 PM
10 minutes to read
The lookout at Onerahi provided one of the safest, and best, viewing spots during yesterday s tsunami alert. Photo / Tania Whyte.
Northern Advocate
Northland coped well with yesterday s tsunami warning, but more work is needed on an evacuation plan to prevent the sort of gridlock that hit Whangārei as thousands fled the CBD, Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai said.
Thousands of Northlanders fled their homes, offices and schools in low-lying coastal areas and headed for the safety of higher ground after a tsunami warning was issued by Civil Defence at 8.46am. The all-clear was given at 3.34pm.
Northland entrepreneur creates alternative to wet wipes
23 Dec, 2020 04:00 PM
4 minutes to read
Entrepreneur Billie Jo Hohepa-Ropiha and New World Regent owner Eric Rush with the B-DÉT product she came up with as a solution to stopping wet wipes going into wastewater pipes. Photo / Tania Whyte
Mike Dinsdale is Northern Advocate deputy editormike.dinsdale@nzme.co.nznorthernadvocat
A Northland entrepreneur may have found an answer to the damage caused by the millions of wet wipes flushed down toilets and clogging up wastewater treatment plants.
In New Zealand the damage and removal of the wipes from wastewater pipes costs $16 million a year.