New Zealand has established a taskforce to ensure a speedy rec
overy and reconstruction of the areas affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and January floods. The Terms of Reference for the Cyclone Gabrielle Rec
overy Taskforce have been approved by the ca
binet, with the taskforce’s primary purpose to align locally led rec
overy plans with the work of government agencies and the private sector. “Our response
will ensure affected communities are at the center of the decision making and that local voices are fed back to the government
through the taskforce,” Finance Minister Grant Robertson said on Wednesday. The taskforce
will also oversee specialist groups of experts who
will advise the government on what is required for the rec
overy and how to improve resilience to climate change and severe weather in the future, Robertson said.
The taskforce membership inc
ludes representatives from business, local government, communities and unions. There are also expert sub-groups for insurance and banking, utilities and telecommunications, as well as infrastructure, construction and roading.
