■ The first month of 2026 has certainly presented many challenges for our communities, and I want to first acknowledge the loss of life and the tremendous impacts on many families following the recent major storm events, writes East Coast MP, Dana Kirkpatrick.

There has been so much to do, and the number of issues affecting families in different ways has been enormous: multiple road closures, people unable to access essential medication, the Intercity bus not running through Ōpōtiki, young people unable to attend school, widespread loss of water and power, silt everywhere, and multigenerational homes rendered uninhabitable.

Now that recovery is in full swing with services and agencies working to help where they’re needed, it is time to turn our minds to what we can do better.

I note with some disappointment the ongoing narrative that “this Government has scrapped the climate resilience fund”, and the inference that the Government will not fund climate-related damage to infrastructure. Let me set out exactly what has been done – and what is possible when the adults are in the room.

The National-led Government upheld the $2.8 billion commitment originally allocated to regions affected by Cyclones Gabrielle and Hale, focusing this investment on fixing roads, homes, and recovery projects.

The remainder of the fund was returned to the Government, and resilience funding was then re-prioritised.

Much of it now flows through the Regional Infrastructure Fund, which continues to support stopbanks, culverts, and roading resilience.

In addition, Government departments have been required to budget for both recovery and resilience in their baseline forecasts.

For example, $700 million exists in the NZ Transport Agency budget for roading recovery and the Ministry for the Environment holds $7 million for dealing with waste in climate-related events.

The Natural Hazards Commission has $700 million for these types of events.

The Government moved quickly to support affected communities, mobilising additional funding and frontline assistance within two weeks.

This included $1 million in additional funding for marae,$1.2 million for Mayoral Relief Funds, Ministry for Social Development emergency payments for flood-impacted residents, NZ Defence Force on the ground helping communities, NZ Transport Authority and the transport minister visiting to assess damage and deploying additional crews to reopen roads, Health NZ’s National Public Health Service alongside local authorities and Civil Defence Emergency Management partners are assessing, monitoring and managing environmental health risks and mental wellbeing co-ordination, with District Psychosocial Co-ordinators embedded in local Civil Defence Emergency Management Welfare Groups initiated, with local iwi support – all within two weeks. Relocatable homes were delivered to Te Araroa and are being prepared for occupation once utility connections are completed, with Wharekahika next.

Alongside our immediate response, we have made significant longer-term investments to strengthen regional resilience:

n SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki and Ōhiwa Beach Road – Waiotahe Valley Back Road tear-drop roundabout safety improvement projects.

n Replacement of Pekatahi Bridge with a new two-lane crossing, with a budget of $64-$69 million.

n Up to $50 million committed to support the planned relocation of five marae – Rangatira, Takipū, Okuri, Puketawai, and Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna – with planning and preparatory work now under way.

n Significant roading upgrades, including works at Hakanui Straight (SH2) and Rototahe (SH35).

n Major upgrades to Waipaoa River stopbanks, widening the flood zone to better protect communities.

n Substantial investment in SH35 and surrounding routes, including the Maungahāuini Gorge, Hikuwai Bridge, 170 culverts and dropouts, and major works at Tiniroto Bluffs, St Leger, and Mata – all using more resilient designs.

There is no doubt that future works in the Waiōweka Gorge and along SH35 must continue to prioritise resilience – including larger culverts, different bridge designs, and rockfall protections.

And though many seem to have gained newly minted “engineering degrees” overnight, I prefer to leave technical design matters to the experts.

This Government does not put money into a holding pattern with a shiny label on it.

Funding is allocated responsibly for specific outcomes. We do not create “special funds” without plans or delivery attached.

Our approach focuses on investing in practical, effective projects that genuinely strengthen community resilience.

Our priority is clear: fix the basics and build the future – and that is exactly what we are doing.