July 15, 2014
Government flood response shallow
Northland Regional councillor Dover Samuels says the $100,000 offered to the region by the Government in the wake of the past week’s storms is an insult.
Whanau are still cleaning flood damaged homes and businesses in Moerewa and other places, there are wind blown trees and crop damage, and State Highway 1 is closed just south of Kawakawa.
Mr Samuels says heavy traffic is being forced onto rural by-pass roads that weren’t built for it.
He says the government is spending hundreds of millions on Canterbury and other places, but the contribution of Tai Tokerau to the national economy is ignored.
"I would have thought that the government would've actually waited and get some sort of assessment by the regional council and local authorities as to the extent of the damage before they come out and make this measly offer of $100,000. That wouldn't even pay for the bureaucrats' mileage," Mr Samuels says.
He wants to see the Ministers of Civil Defence and Economic Development in the north so they can see for themselves what needs to be done.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH DOVER SAMUELS CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjAwODA=
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