1 00:00:09,093 --> 00:00:12,693 Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talks Be follow 2 00:00:12,773 --> 00:00:16,133 Speaker 1: this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio. 3 00:00:16,653 --> 00:00:19,252 Speaker 2: We are bringing your extensive coverage of this extreme weather 4 00:00:19,332 --> 00:00:21,372 Speaker 2: event and the devastating slip at the Mount Long and 5 00:00:21,413 --> 00:00:25,053 Speaker 2: Nui campground. On the line right now is Emergency Management 6 00:00:25,093 --> 00:00:28,773 Speaker 2: Minister Mark Mitchell Mark, thank you very much for joining us. 7 00:00:29,533 --> 00:00:31,493 Speaker 3: Hell, you're welcome. Hey, Tyler, Hey Matt. 8 00:00:32,133 --> 00:00:34,852 Speaker 4: Hey, So our emergency service is still treating this as 9 00:00:34,893 --> 00:00:38,132 Speaker 4: an active rescue or has it shifted to recovery mart. 10 00:00:38,732 --> 00:00:43,253 Speaker 3: No, it's definitely an active rescue and fled out busy 11 00:00:43,293 --> 00:00:47,573 Speaker 3: on the ground at the moment, obviously making sure because 12 00:00:47,772 --> 00:00:51,053 Speaker 3: it's a slip and the ground is still unstable, so 13 00:00:51,173 --> 00:00:54,373 Speaker 3: just making sure that they're going to not make the 14 00:00:54,413 --> 00:00:57,213 Speaker 3: situation worse, and also that it's safe for our first 15 00:00:57,253 --> 00:01:00,133 Speaker 3: responders and the FENS and USA staff there and they're 16 00:01:00,133 --> 00:01:00,652 Speaker 3: doing their thing. 17 00:01:01,053 --> 00:01:03,573 Speaker 4: What specialist resources are on site right now. 18 00:01:03,453 --> 00:01:06,293 Speaker 3: Min Yeah, We've got USA, which is a very highly 19 00:01:06,293 --> 00:01:11,533 Speaker 3: specialist resort with resorts with specialist equipment search dogs, so 20 00:01:11,613 --> 00:01:16,613 Speaker 3: they are on site, supported by fendstaff and police. 21 00:01:16,932 --> 00:01:18,653 Speaker 2: Do you have a good idea on the extent of 22 00:01:18,973 --> 00:01:20,053 Speaker 2: the damage at the stage. 23 00:01:20,093 --> 00:01:24,053 Speaker 3: Minister, Yeah, I've seen. I've just been onto the ground, 24 00:01:24,093 --> 00:01:28,012 Speaker 3: so the damage is extensive. It is a substantive slip 25 00:01:29,053 --> 00:01:32,333 Speaker 3: and obviously poses a real challenge, but the team's just 26 00:01:32,413 --> 00:01:35,213 Speaker 3: working as quickly as they can, as diligent as they can. 27 00:01:35,572 --> 00:01:38,493 Speaker 3: They realize how high the stakes are. Everyone is just 28 00:01:38,572 --> 00:01:41,173 Speaker 3: motivated in trying to get as quickly as we can 29 00:01:41,253 --> 00:01:43,533 Speaker 3: to these people and recovered. 30 00:01:44,093 --> 00:01:46,653 Speaker 4: So is it a stable situation there right now or 31 00:01:46,693 --> 00:01:49,293 Speaker 4: is there a possibility of more slips in the area. 32 00:01:50,093 --> 00:01:52,813 Speaker 3: There's geotech scientists that that are on site as well 33 00:01:52,853 --> 00:01:56,733 Speaker 3: that are providing device around that. But because the slip 34 00:01:56,733 --> 00:01:59,893 Speaker 3: only happened amount of hours ago, that is a concern. 35 00:01:59,973 --> 00:02:02,493 Speaker 3: So of course you have spotters that are sort of 36 00:02:02,613 --> 00:02:05,573 Speaker 3: keeping an eye on the rest of that health site 37 00:02:05,693 --> 00:02:08,933 Speaker 3: to make sure try and anticipate if there is a 38 00:02:08,933 --> 00:02:10,173 Speaker 3: further slide and war movement. 39 00:02:10,813 --> 00:02:15,693 Speaker 2: Obviously a heartbreaking and devastating time for families involved. Minister, Yeah, 40 00:02:15,493 --> 00:02:17,933 Speaker 2: I take it. They have the support they need right now. 41 00:02:18,773 --> 00:02:21,453 Speaker 3: Yeah, they do. The community the SIF club has been outstanding, 42 00:02:22,933 --> 00:02:24,693 Speaker 3: so we're all trying to just try to wrap as 43 00:02:24,773 --> 00:02:28,853 Speaker 3: much support, comfort, you know, and reassurance around them as 44 00:02:28,893 --> 00:02:29,813 Speaker 3: we can, but you can. 45 00:02:30,252 --> 00:02:30,773 Speaker 1: You can just. 46 00:02:30,733 --> 00:02:32,532 Speaker 3: Imagine, you know, if it was your wife, or your 47 00:02:32,933 --> 00:02:34,773 Speaker 3: or your children, how you'd be feeling. 48 00:02:35,532 --> 00:02:39,333 Speaker 4: Absolutely, And of course there are slips across a much 49 00:02:39,333 --> 00:02:41,573 Speaker 4: wider area in that. What are the other main areas 50 00:02:41,613 --> 00:02:44,532 Speaker 4: of concern across affected areas. 51 00:02:45,733 --> 00:02:51,413 Speaker 3: Well? For me, Northland, Cora, Mandel, Thames, Haireki they have 52 00:02:51,493 --> 00:02:57,533 Speaker 3: plenty and Tyrafit and gismon. But look, the response has 53 00:02:57,573 --> 00:03:00,653 Speaker 3: been outstanding, right from councils through to our first responders, 54 00:03:01,693 --> 00:03:06,173 Speaker 3: community groups, EWE and HAPU, you know, the best response 55 00:03:06,213 --> 00:03:08,773 Speaker 3: to these events as whole as society and just getting 56 00:03:08,773 --> 00:03:11,532 Speaker 3: better and better at that as a country. 57 00:03:11,933 --> 00:03:15,093 Speaker 2: You mentioned in the press conference Minister, some of the 58 00:03:15,133 --> 00:03:17,373 Speaker 2: stories you were hearing from those rescue person now a 59 00:03:17,373 --> 00:03:21,173 Speaker 2: lot of bravery involved. I mean clearly that is something 60 00:03:21,333 --> 00:03:24,493 Speaker 2: as a country we can be incredibly proud of those 61 00:03:24,532 --> 00:03:27,333 Speaker 2: people who jump into those situations when we need the most. 62 00:03:28,453 --> 00:03:30,213 Speaker 3: Yeah, we can be, I mean without a doubt, and 63 00:03:30,252 --> 00:03:32,053 Speaker 3: it's always humbling. It puts the lump in my throat 64 00:03:32,053 --> 00:03:34,693 Speaker 3: when I hear the stories of bravery from our first 65 00:03:34,693 --> 00:03:36,973 Speaker 3: responders in the and members of the community. I was 66 00:03:37,013 --> 00:03:39,653 Speaker 3: up in Northland. You know some of our remote communities 67 00:03:39,733 --> 00:03:42,093 Speaker 3: up there were hit very hard. NAUGHTI wie stood up 68 00:03:42,093 --> 00:03:44,093 Speaker 3: and did a great job up there. But I was 69 00:03:44,093 --> 00:03:47,653 Speaker 3: talking to one gentleman that waded through floodwaters to in 70 00:03:47,693 --> 00:03:50,213 Speaker 3: the middle of the night as Kevin had floated away 71 00:03:50,253 --> 00:03:54,413 Speaker 3: to save an older woman and a child. And I 72 00:03:54,453 --> 00:03:55,973 Speaker 3: have no doubt in my mind at all if he 73 00:03:56,013 --> 00:03:59,373 Speaker 3: hadn't done that, then we would have lost them. So yes, 74 00:03:59,453 --> 00:04:02,373 Speaker 3: I mean, keyw Wei's are always there for one another 75 00:04:02,373 --> 00:04:05,453 Speaker 3: when the chips are down, And although these weather events 76 00:04:05,453 --> 00:04:07,933 Speaker 3: are tough and we're now dealing with a real tragedy year, 77 00:04:09,533 --> 00:04:11,733 Speaker 3: you know the key we step forward to one another 78 00:04:11,733 --> 00:04:12,373 Speaker 3: without a doubt. 79 00:04:13,653 --> 00:04:16,053 Speaker 4: I'm just just seeing these pictures coming through from a 80 00:04:16,093 --> 00:04:19,133 Speaker 4: big slip in Papa Moya. Do you know much about 81 00:04:19,173 --> 00:04:20,693 Speaker 4: that situation in Minister. 82 00:04:21,893 --> 00:04:24,253 Speaker 3: Yes, so that's a recovery operation that's happening there at 83 00:04:24,293 --> 00:04:28,733 Speaker 3: the moment as well. So another very tough situation where 84 00:04:28,773 --> 00:04:30,653 Speaker 3: a slip has taken out an entire. 85 00:04:30,493 --> 00:04:35,533 Speaker 2: House and for people around these these affected areas, Minister, 86 00:04:35,613 --> 00:04:39,613 Speaker 2: what is the messaging at the moment, Is it's still 87 00:04:39,733 --> 00:04:43,173 Speaker 2: to go to the civil defense websites, listen to the radio. 88 00:04:44,493 --> 00:04:48,413 Speaker 2: Is there still evacuation orders in place in some areas well. 89 00:04:48,453 --> 00:04:51,533 Speaker 3: It's still although the red warning now has been lifted 90 00:04:51,533 --> 00:04:55,573 Speaker 3: because the tropical low has now moved offshore, we've got 91 00:04:55,573 --> 00:04:57,373 Speaker 3: a slight tail that's coming through the South Island and 92 00:04:57,373 --> 00:04:59,253 Speaker 3: we've put give any close eye on that sort of 93 00:04:59,253 --> 00:05:02,533 Speaker 3: around Tasman. But yeah, no, you're absolutely right. Just take 94 00:05:02,613 --> 00:05:06,693 Speaker 3: official advice, keep checking your civil defense websites and council websites. 95 00:05:06,813 --> 00:05:08,293 Speaker 3: You know, the media. You guys are very good at 96 00:05:08,333 --> 00:05:11,693 Speaker 3: getting information out there to people. You know, use be 97 00:05:11,813 --> 00:05:15,053 Speaker 3: pragmatic and use common sense. But you know, we're sort 98 00:05:15,093 --> 00:05:16,813 Speaker 3: of we're starting to come through it. We're still in 99 00:05:16,893 --> 00:05:19,413 Speaker 3: response phase. We are moving into recovery phase as well. 100 00:05:20,413 --> 00:05:24,013 Speaker 2: Minister, thank you very much for joining us. Really appreciate 101 00:05:24,053 --> 00:05:26,493 Speaker 2: the information, and yeah, it's going to be a big 102 00:05:26,533 --> 00:05:27,973 Speaker 2: day for you, so thank you very much. That is 103 00:05:28,013 --> 00:05:30,293 Speaker 2: Emergency Management Minister Mark Mark Mitchell. 104 00:05:30,853 --> 00:05:33,533 Speaker 1: For more from News Talk sed B, listen live on 105 00:05:33,573 --> 00:05:36,573 Speaker 1: air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever 106 00:05:36,613 --> 00:05:39,173 Speaker 1: you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.