Episode Details

Cyclone Gabrielles devastation in New Zealands Tairāwhiti region in 2023, exacerbated by logging debris, led to a ministerial inquiry and new rules for commercial forestry. However, recent government revisions allow more debris in low-risk areas and reduce councils enforcement power. Māori guardians of the land and ecosystems suffered significant impacts. New research reveals minimal compliance with forestry consent conditions, with high-risk gullies and headwaters remaining open for logging. Councils seek exemptions to tighten erosion-prone land rules, but without broader reforms, communities and taxpayers bear the cost as storms intensify with climate change. The lessons from Gabrielle remain uncertain.

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