Time and place, or not engaging?

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

Opinion

Regarding criticism by the council chief executive of our lead story on Saturday, which contained criticisms of council-led Civil Defence Emergency Management at a time it was dealing with a State of Emergency, we accept she makes fair points and agree that our community needs to come together in times of crisis.

However, the premise of Nedine Thatcher Swann’s argument — that there is a time and place for such articles, but during a State of Emergency is not that time — does not fit with the council response we received last Friday.

The Te Karaka community has understandable grievances after the township had to self-evacuate in fast-rising floodwaters during Cyclone Gabrielle that claimed a life, and many were then stuck on a hill for 27 hours waiting for help to arrive.

Bureaucratic challenges have followed, a great deal of which has been made by a fierce advocate for the traumatised flood victims of Te Karaka. Minus the inflammatory language, isn’t that better than giving up after banging your head against the proverbial brick wall?

Where would all those with damaged homes at Te Karaka be without the advocates and volunteers who have jumped into action to support them, and the mahi of Toitu Tairāwhiti and Te Aitanga a Mahaki?

Of course we were going to the community leaders of Te Karaka for a story after they evacuated again in this latest event, last Thursday afternoon. Our reporter then emailed the council regarding the criticisms at 8.22am on Friday, giving our latest possible deadline of 4pm.

The first two replies advised when the council sent e-text evacuation warnings to Te Karaka residents signed up to receive them, plus an Emergency Management Alert, and the messaging they wanted to go out to the community. Asked if they would be responding to the criticisms, the reply was that they were dealing with a Civil Defence emergency, were disappointed the only information request from us was for a “hit piece” against them, and that they “will not be engaging on this topic anymore”.

Putting criticisms to those in power goes with the territory of news reporting. The council should be able to not only respond to criticisms but also communicate effectively; “not engaging on this topic” was its actual position (yes, while under pressure).

If the response had been a request to hold off because they were dealing with a Civil Defence emergency, that would have been reasonable and considered properly. At the least it might have prompted us to reassess where the story should run.

We do take our role in sharing important information during a crisis seriously. It is true that we didn’t even consider putting the latest information release from the council on Saturday’s front page, and we’ve reflected on that.

We will also collect the report on the external audit of council and Civil Defence actions during Cyclone Gabrielle from GDC offices today.