28 January 2011

King Tide Disrupts North Shore
Last weekend the North Shore was deluged with 114mm of rain. This rain, combined with a low pressure system and a king tide, proved disastrous in some parts of the electorate. Milford and Devonport bore the brunt of the resultant flooding. Forrest Hill and Glenfield experienced power outages.

Local board member Joseph Bergin saw the devastation at first hand. When the tide reached the high water mark, just before 11.30pm on Saturday, he saw many boat owners lining the road adjacent to Milford Marina anxiously observing their precariously placed boats. The waters were far too high for comfort. Further north, Castor Bay beach was completely submerged and water spilled onto the esplanade.

As an example of the weather’s effects, the photos below were taken by Joseph Bergin in Milford and show the same scene, the day after the storm (left) and the day after the high tide.

On Monday I visited the Civil Defence office on East Coast Road and met some of the team who had worked tirelessly over the weekend. The embankments protecting one property in Milford had been completely washed away so the Waitakere Initial Response Team got stuck in, using 300 sandbags to prevent further erosion of the property. Members of the team had to be tethered while placing the sandbags, and were up to their chests in surging water at times.

Well done to everyone involved in the Civil Defence operation.

Visit to Antarctica
This week I have made a science visit to Antarctica. The programme was busy and interesting, with many opportunities to see New Zealand and American scientists in action.

New Zealand and the US have worked very closely together in Antarctica for more than half a century. There have been many scientific and logistical benefits for both countries.

The visit included tours of New Zealand’s Arrival Heights atmospheric research facility, Meridian Energy’s Crater Hill Wind Farm, and McMurdo Dry Valleys, cold deserts where the environment is similar to Mars. The valleys are at the extreme of where life can exist and are the site of the Long Term Ecological Research project, in which New Zealand is also involved.

Looking Ahead: Growth, Science and Innovation
This year’s election will be about the future of New Zealand. It will be about our direction as a nation, and how hard we are willing to work to get there.

The last election was dominated by issues of the moment – specifically which party had the best credentials to deal with the effects of the global financial crisis on New Zealand. This election will focus on which party can deliver the best future.

The new Ministry of Science and Innovation will start work next Tuesday, 1 February. The new Ministry is a symbol of the Government’s determination to drive our economic growth, raise our standard of living and provide the tools needed for New Zealand businesses to thrive.

The National-led Government has already shown our commitment to raising incomes, and providing the incentives to get ahead. Over the next three years we will be looking to build economic growth, creating an environment where business can thrive and our exporters can expand their presence overseas.

Hon Dr Wayne Mapp
MP North Shore

ENDS

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