Council looking for community interest in recovery plan

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gisborne District Council is calling on expressions of interest for its new community-led recovery plan following severe weather across the region.

The Recovery Coordination Centre — which was set up to ensure a coordinated recovery for Tairāwhiti — wants to hear from communities who would like to either lead or host the planning.

Council group recovery manager Anita Reedy-Holthausen said a government requirement for the development of regional recovery plans was that they were community-led.

“These sessions are a way of finding out how communities want to lead a recovery plan for their community, and how they’d like their recovery aspirations captured,” Reedy-Holthausen said.

“The opportunity and invitation is for all whānau, including surrounding areas of rural townships, to come along and take part.”

The groups’ main responsibilities include a space for communities to come together and define a vision for a healthy community, as well as short, medium and long-term recovery aspirations, Reedy-Holthausen said.

Some rural communities had already begun working with the Recovery Coordination Centre and the organisation was keen to hear from other rural communities who wanted to collaborate.

The council did not have a specific time frame for when the groups would ideally be implemented, but the expression of interest period ends in September.

Those wishing to express interest can do so by emailing recovery@gdc.govt.nz or by phoning 0800 653 800.