Christopher Luxon speaks to the media on the Auckland floods. Video / Carson Bluck
National leader Christopher Luxon believes the Government has been “absolutely shambolic” in its communication with schools and parents over the decision to shut all Auckland schools and early learning centres for the week due to widespread flooding.
Luxon, speaking from the office of North Shore electorate and National MP Simon Watts in Takapuna, said it was understandable why some must close but referenced others in areas like East Auckland where closure might not be necessary given minimal flood damage.
“I think the communication has been really poor,” Luxon said.
He said his own frustration had been reflected in his conversations with parents.
Asked what he would have done differently, Luxon said it shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. He said areas like Papakura and East Auckland that hadn’t been impacted should have their schools open.
Standing beside Watts and local National Party member Dan Bidois, Luxon said he had spent today witnessing the damage inflicted by the flooding which began on Friday.
He reinforced his belief that the state of emergency in Auckland should have been called earlier and that there was a vacuum of leadership in the early moments of the storm on Friday.
He said the processes for emergency management should be strengthened to ensure the response was speedy and effective, something he had seen overseas.
Asked if he thought Mayor Wayne Brown was capable, Luxon didn’t speculate but referenced the review that would begin after the flood.
On the flooding impact on the North Shore, Luxon said he and Watts had been in Sunnynook yesterday and the “devastation was complete”.
He said it was “incredibly devastating” for people to be enduring flood damage while they also suffered from a cost of living crisis.
An aerial view of Stanley Point, Devonport in Auckland shows the impact of record rainfall on the city. Photo / Brett Phibbs
On today, Luxon said he had seen a continuation of people cleaning up and hadn’t yet seen more heavy rain but he acknowledged more was forecast later this afternoon for areas north of Auckland.
Asked whether the flooding and its impact would change National’s climate change policy, Luxon said he personally was under no illusions climate change would bring more severe weather events.
He referenced National’s established positions on climate change but his comments did not indicate the current flood would prompt changes to the party’s perspective.
His message to Aucklanders was reassurance that he knew how tough it was for Aucklanders having seen what they were struggling with. However, he said it had also been inspiring to see New Zealanders at their very best when they go the extra mile to help out those in need.
A heavy rain warning is currently in place for Northland until 4am tomorrow. In Auckland north of Orewa, a similar warning will apply from 5pm today through to 8am tomorrow.
The MetService warning predicts 80 to 120 millimetres of rain with some areas at risk of experiencing 25-40mm per hour.
An orange warning was also in place for the rest of Auckland from 8pm tonight to 10am tomorrow and for Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane from 3am tomorrow to 9pm tomorrow.
The unprecedented rainfall had the potential to further overwhelm Auckland’s stormwater infrastructure and exacerbate flooding in already drenched suburbs.
The flooding, which began on Friday, has led to about 400 Auckland properties being red or yellow-stickered - meaning they are unsafe to enter or can only be entered temporarily or through a specific entry point.
Luxon has based himself in Auckland for the last few days, surveying flood damage and assisting in clean-up efforts.
Last night, Luxon and the National Party were dealt a blow by two polls indicating Hipkins’ ascension to Labour leader and Prime Minister has increased the left-wing party’s public support.
Labour's Chris Hipkins and National's Christopher Luxon are neck-and-neck according to the latest polls. Photo / Mark Mitchell
In the 1News Kantar Public poll, Labour rose by five percentage points to 38 per cent as National dropped 1 point to 37.
On preferred Prime Minister, Hipkins had gone straight from zero to 23 per cent - while Jacinda Ardern has plummeted immediately to just five per cent. Luxon had dropped slightly to 22 per cent as preferred PM.
The Newshub Reid Research poll had Labour rising nearly six points to 38 per cent and National dropping 4.1 points to 36.6 per cent.
Hipkins again topped the preferred Prime Minister stakes, debuting at 19.6 per cent, while Luxon dropped 2.7 points to 18.8 per cent.
Asked if they trusted the main party leaders, 52.9 per cent of respondents said they trusted Hipkins while 26.9 per cent said no.
For Luxon meanwhile, just 36.9 per cent trusted him, while 43.8 per cent said they did not.
