Hundreds of Hawke's Bay residents weren't evacuated in time and had to flee for their lives in Cyclone Gabrielle Photo: Supplied
Update: An earlier version of the article below reported Hinewai Ormsby would be appearing. She has since been removed from the list.
More than two years after Cyclone Gabrielle devastated Hawke's Bay, families of those who died will take part in a coroner's inquest into their deaths.
Nineteen people died in 2023 during Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods, and the second phase of the inquest begins in Hastings District Court today.
The three-week long inquest will examine how Hawke's Bay Civil Defence prepared for the cyclone, what and how warnings were issued, and the operational emergency response, which includes search and rescue efforts for those who died.
- The first phase was held in Auckland and examined the deaths of four men who died during the Auckland Anniversary floods, and two firefighters who died in Muriwai during Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.
- It focused on the warnings given to the public and the emergency response.
- Metservice chief meteorologist told Coroner Erin Whooley that Hawke's Bay Regional Council opposed an upgrading of weather warnings to red for the region the day before the cyclone hit.
- Thirteen of the deaths were in Hawke's Bay and phase two of the inquiry is set to take place from 6-17 October, and 10-14th November.
- RNZ can reveal the number of Hawke's Bay deaths being investigated by the Coroner has risen from 12 to 13, as police have halted the search for missing man Joseph Ahuriri and referred his death to the coroner.
Two year old Ivy Collins was among the 13 people who died in Hawke's Bay during Cyclone Gabrielle Photo: Supplied
Among the 33 witnesses being called upon in October is Ian Macdonald, the former Hawke's Bay's Civil Defence group controller who resigned a year ago.
He was on leave when Cyclone Gabrielle hit, and following a series of damning investigations into Civil Defence's failure to respond to the cyclone, he faced criticism for not acting quickly enough to evacuate people and save lives.
Chris Dolley - who is in charge of the region's flood scheme operations and management, and river level monitoring - will also be questioned.
Fire and Emergency NZ and MetService will also give evidence.
Susane Caccioppoli is among the 13 people who died in Hawke's Bay during Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: Supplied
Evidence and specific issues relating to individual deaths will be heard during the week in November, or in March 2026.
During that period, the coroner will look into the deaths of Ivy Collins, Susane Caccioppoli, Maree Greene, Ian McLauchland, Brendan Miller, Shona Wilson, George Luke, Helen Street, Campbell Simmonds, Robert Liverton and John Coates.
Witnesses include family members and local community supporters, as well as Civil Defence, Hawke's Bay councils and Police.
Clockwise from top left, four of the victims - Maree Greene, 59, George Luke, Craig Stevens and John Coates, 64. Photo: Supplied via NZ Herald
Because of the circumstances surrounding George Luke's death, the New Zealand Transport Agency, Hawke's Bay councils and Rangitikei District Council will give evidence.
George Luke died on the Napier/Taihape Road during the cyclone, after his vehicle became trapped between two landslides. He and his partner were eventually rescued three days later, but he died from severe hypothermia in hospital. Questions have since been raised about why the road remained open that night, and issues around these decisions are expected to be discussed in the third week of the inquest.
Inquest witnesses for Helen Street's include a forensic pathologist, Health New Zealand, Transpower and Unison Networks because the 86 year old is believed to have died from a lack of oxygen.
The Ngaruroro River burst its banks near Omahu Photo: Supplied
Police search for missing man ends
Police have confirmed to RNZ that their extensive search for missing man Joseph Ahuriri has ended, and his death has been referred to the coroner.
Police have been searching for Ahuriri for more than two years, after he was last seen refuelling his white Toyota Hilux at the Waitomo petrol station in Bay View, just north of Napier, when Cyclone Gabrielle hit early on 14 February 2023.
There has not been any sign of him or his vehicle since, and police searches have included digging up the Bayview beach, the use of magnometer drones, and dive squads.
Police told RNZ that their investigation into his disappearance has now 'concluded'.
"We can confirm Joseph's death has been referred to the Coroner," said a Police spokesperson.
Joseph Ahuriri. Photo: Supplied via NZ Police
A Coroners Court spokesperson also confirmed that Ahuriri was now part of the Cyclone Gabrielle inquest, after initially not being included because of the ongoing police investigation into his disappearance.
"Joseph Ahuriri's death has been referred to the coroner and will be considered as part of the joint inquiry into Cyclone Gabrielle," they said.
While Ahuriri has been added to the Cyclone Gabrielle inquest, his phase of the inquiry won't be heard until next year.
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