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I’ve lived through and reported on two major flooding events: the Napier flooding in November 2020 andÌýthe Auckland floodingÌýinÌýJanuary 2023. The response from mayors and public service agencies couldÌýnotÌýhave been more different.ÌýÌý

In 2020 asÌýtheÌýrain came thick and fast during the eveningÌýthere were frequent updates and advice from Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise and Hawke’s Bay Emergency Management. There were updates on rainfall figures, warnings not to drive,Ìýroad closures, advice aboutÌýwater use, weather information,ÌýandÌýhealth and safety advice.ÌýÌý

AfterÌýfrequent updates,Ìýa state of emergency was declared later that night. AÌýjointÌýpress conference with the mayor, MP, Fire and Emergency, CivilÌýDefence, police,Ìýand District Health Board officialsÌýcame the following day.ÌýThe press conference beganÌýwith the mayor sayingÌýofficialsÌýwouldÌýanswer any questions journalists may have.ÌýTheÌýmayorÌýshared video updatesÌýon social mediaÌýin the daysÌýfollowing.ÌýÌý

Given theÌýdifficult emergencyÌýcircumstances,ÌýI feltÌýit was fairly easy forÌýtheÌýmedia to access officialsÌýfor information to convey to the public.ÌýÌý

There was a coordinated and informative response. I for one felt updated,Ìýand like the unprecedented situation was being dealt with, which brought some comfort during a scary time.ÌýÌý

It was a different story in Auckland on Friday night. The rain again came thick and fast,ÌýfloodingÌýmany parts of Auckland.ÌýIt’s a much larger city than Napier,Ìýand the flooding was more widespread,Ìýso I have no doubt management comes with moreÌýchallenges, but there is also a larger team of people.ÌýÌý

ItÌýfeltÌýdifficult to getÌýadequateÌýinformationÌýfrom officialÌýagencies. Updates on the Auckland Emergency Management social media pages were few and far between inÌýcomparisonÌýto during the Napier flooding.ÌýWaka Kotahi seemingly ceased roading updates in the evening before theÌýTransport MinisterÌýtweetedÌýthat he had instructed the Agency to re-open their channels urgently,Ìýat whichÌýpointÌýupdates restarted after 10.30Ìýpm.Ìý

There was nothing on the Auckland Council Facebook page until the mayor declared a state of local emergency.ÌýThat post has been met with angry reacts and comments have been limited.ÌýThere were calls on social media and emails from the mayor’s ownÌýcouncillorsÌýto make that call.ÌýUnlike in Auckland, theÌýNapier mayor did not have to be urged by the leader of the opposition, and members of the public, to declare a state of emergency.ÌýÌý

AÌýlate-night press conference fronted by the mayorÌýwas welcome news and brought much-needed information. But with manyÌýconcernedÌýabout the prior absence, he fielded questions about whetherÌýhe’d acted soon enoughÌýand if communicationÌýto the publicÌýwas robust.ÌýÌý

OnÌýSaturday morningÌýin a media interview about the weather eventÌýthe mayor did not know whether the water was safe to drink.ÌýÌý

Full credit is due to the AucklandÌýCouncillorsÌýand politiciansÌýacross the boardÌýwho did work throughout the night to keep their communities updated, as well as the local churches, marae,Ìýand communityÌýorganisationsÌýthat rallied to provide emergencyÌýcentresÌýfor people to vacate to, advice, compassion,Ìýand other assistance.ÌýIt goes to show what real leadership is.ÌýÌý

-Shannon Johnstone is a ¾ÅÒ»ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞtalk ZB reporter based in Auckland who previously worked at Hawke’s Bay Today.Ìý