When Cyclone Gabrielle hit the East Coast in February 2023, it left a trail of destruction that would take years to recover from. Roads washed away, bridges collapsed, hillsides gave way, and entire communities were cut off from the outside world. The scale of damage was unprecedented in living memory.
The Aftermath
The East Coast bore some of the worst impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle. State Highway 35 — the lifeline route connecting Gisborne to the Eastern Bay of Plenty — was severed in multiple locations. Rural roads that served farming and forestry communities were destroyed. Critical infrastructure including water supplies, power lines, and telecommunications were knocked out.
For weeks after the cyclone, some communities could only be reached by helicopter. The isolation was not just an inconvenience — it was a genuine safety crisis.
Parata’s Response
Parata was established in 2023 to restore access to Tairāwhiti’s main arterial routes and reconnect our cut-off rural communities following the devastating effects of Cyclone Gabrielle. As a local company with deep roots in the East Coast community, Parata was among the first responders to the infrastructure crisis. Our team mobilised immediately, working alongside emergency services, council crews, and other contractors to restore access.
Emergency Access
The first priority was getting roads open — even if only for single-lane traffic. Our crews worked around the clock to clear slips, fill washouts, and create temporary bypasses. In many cases, this meant working in dangerous conditions with unstable ground and ongoing rainfall.
Temporary Solutions
With permanent repairs months or years away, we installed temporary solutions to keep communities connected:
- Rock armouring to stabilise road edges and prevent further erosion
- Emergency drainage to redirect floodwaters away from vulnerable road sections
- Slip removal and temporary retaining structures
Permanent Reconstruction
As the emergency phase gave way to recovery, our focus shifted to permanent reconstruction. This has involved:
- Road rebuilding — reconstructing road formations from scratch where the original road was completely lost
- Drainage upgrades — sizing culverts and drainage structures for increased rainfall intensities
Lessons Learned
Cyclone Gabrielle taught us several important lessons about infrastructure resilience:
Build for the Future, Not the Past
Historical rainfall data is no longer a reliable guide for infrastructure design. Climate change is increasing storm intensity, and our infrastructure needs to be designed accordingly. This means larger culverts, stronger bridges, and more resilient road formations.
Redundancy Matters
When SH35 was cut, there was no alternative route. Communities with only one road in and out are extremely vulnerable. Where possible, maintaining alternative access routes — even if they are lower-standard roads — provides critical resilience.
Local Knowledge Is Invaluable
Understanding the terrain, the soils, the weather patterns, and the history of an area is essential for effective disaster response. Our team’s deep knowledge of the East Coast enabled faster, more effective responses than would have been possible for crews unfamiliar with the region.
Maintenance Prevents Catastrophe
Well-maintained infrastructure is more resilient to extreme events. Roads with good drainage, bridges with adequate scour protection, and slopes with proper stabilisation all performed significantly better during the cyclone.
The Road Ahead
The East Coast recovery is far from complete. Years of work remain to fully restore and strengthen the region’s infrastructure. But progress is being made, and the community’s resilience continues to inspire.
Parata is committed to this recovery for the long term. This is our home, and rebuilding it is not just our work — it is our purpose.
Learn more about our civil construction services or see our Waipare Bluff remediation project and Hikuwai Bridge repair.
If you have infrastructure recovery needs, contact our team to discuss how we can help.
