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Red Weather Warning Blocked Before Cyclone Gabrielle's Fury

7/1/2025

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Summary

Story summary

MetService's chief meteorologist disclosed that a red weather warning for Hawke's Bay could have been issued prior to Cyclone Gabrielle's devastating arrival in February 2023, but was blocked by the regional council. The ongoing inquest into the cyclone, which claimed 19 lives, is scrutinizing critical failures in New Zealand's emergency management and the urgent need for better flood forecasting teamwork.

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Story summary

MetService's chief meteorologist disclosed that a red weather warning for Hawke's Bay could have been issued prior to Cyclone Gabrielle's devastating arrival in February 2023, but was blocked by the regional council. The ongoing inquest into the cyclone, which claimed 19 lives, is scrutinizing critical failures in New Zealand's emergency management and the urgent need for better flood forecasting teamwork.