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Around the country we are all catching up with the enormity of what we are seeing unfold in Hawke’s Bay and East Cape, on top of the already extensively damaged Northland, Auckland and Coromandel regions. Watching the news last night was a heart-breaking affair, seeing how the lives of our fellow kiwis have been upended. Some have lost loved ones. Many have lost homes, and those that haven’t may not be able to return for months. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected. At NRC the team has been working hard on supporting our members through the after-effects of Cyclone Gabrielle any way we can. That’s included helping 50 tonne flour trucks traverse the road closures in the Bay, assisting with partially closed bridge requirements, and of course keeping everyone up to date with the road network. If there is anything that you need help with, no matter how big or small, please call us on 0800 686 777. That is why we are here. This morning I attended a Hugo Group working breakfast with the Minister of Finance, Grant Robertson. It was a sobering affair listening to the chief execs around the table give their updates on damage to their businesses and infrastructure. One silver lining of the cyclone and flooding is that politicians of all stripes now agree we must plan, fund and build infrastructure in a much more sophisticated, long-term fashion. Everyone across the private sector is saying the same thing – we have to do it better. NRC is working to make the most of this momentum – James Smith our COO summed it up perfectly on this morning’s Hosking Show on ZB. While there’s strong agreement around the table, temptation remains. When I asked Minister Robertson if he agreed we need to keep funding of our 50-year roading assets out of the hands of short-term politicians, he only managed to half agree. Justin CEO | DDI: Supporting those who choose to make a living in the Road Transport Industry since 1936 |
