“This is an ongoing challenge and with climate change these adverse weather events are going to become more frequent and potentially more severe. It's something we really need to get our head around as a country.”
Part of the reason for the tour was the unique combination of Mr McAnulty's portfolios, one he said had never happened before. Those included being Minister for Emergency Management and Associate Minister for local government and transport.
He also holds the ministerial portfolio for racing.
Mr McAnulty said a consistent theme affecting all rural councils, which Tairāwhiti wasn't immune to either, was roading and trying to manage a large network area with a small ratepayer base.
In Tairāwhiti, the pinch has been particularly felt, with a number of severe weather events in the past two years forcing the council to scramble on repairs while often playing catch-up to the event.
McAnulty said there was a lot of crossover in his portfolios and how they related to one another, with regional transport intrinsically linked to emergency management, which ultimately affected the local council.
“As severe weather events become more frequent, that puts more pressure on the maintenance and upgrading of roads, which puts more pressure on the council,” he said.
Three Waters, an issue that has proved a sticking point for councils around the country, was also discussed.
Under the reforms, management of councils' water assets will be overseen by publicly-owned entities, of which there are four.
Placement within an entity depends on a council's geographical location but the Government has reassured councils they will not lose ownership.
Mr McAnulty said concerns were raised by Gisborne District Council about the reforms, but not in the vein of opposition, necessarily.
“What I've found at each council, even those that have expressed publicly concerns about the proposals, is they also recognise reform is necessary — that the status quo is unsustainable.
“Councils like this, with such a large geographical area to service and such a low population, simply cannot afford to do the work required over the next 30 years.”
On the topic of poverty, Mr McAnulty said a shortfall of housing was the obvious indicator.
“There's a lot of economic output that comes from here but over many, many decades the benefits of that hasn't necessarily been spread across the whole region.”
The Government was making “considerable investment” in the region to address housing and he was buoyed by the community spirit and willingness of central government, local council and community groups to work together.
Mayor Rehette Stoltz said the meeting was “very productive” and the council was able to share its concerns and aspirations with the minister.
“It was good to meet face to face and he was open to feedback,” she said.
The next council on Mr McAnulty's list was Wairoa, followed by Central Hawke's Bay.
